MH370: Old evidence reviewed, new assets needed

The authorities searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 will on Wednesday hold a meeting with international experts to revisit evidence gathered so far, said Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss.

Truss spoke about this move to ‘go back to the drawing board’ in a media briefing today on the failed search that has dragged on for almost two months since the disappearance of the flight on March 8.

“We would be gathering, analysing, all data and information that we have collected since the beginning of the search,” said Truss.

He added that the experts would want to “make sure that satellite information has been accurately interpreted”.

Truss said that the review is hoped to bring new leads as experts “extrapolate the hard information we have received”.

New assets needed

Secondly, Truss said, the Wednesday meeting will talk about new assets required for the next part of the investigation.

“We need more sophisticated equipment... with different abilities,” he said, adding that the machines needed only exists in the “handful around the world”.

The machines, which require sonar capabilities and able to dive to greater depths compared to the Bluefin-21, are needed to map the ocean floor in the remote area where the search for the Boeing 777-200ER is being conducted.

“We have no vessels from Australia that is able to map the sea floor,” said Truss.

He expressed hope that the “tomorrow” would be the day the doomed aircraft would be found after the giant” search of more than 4 mil sq kilometres in the Indian Ocean so far.

To date, he said, the search has been “disappointing” with no trace of any debris linked to the wreckage.

“One of the key elements of the next stage is to undertake more detailed oceanographic mapping as much of this area has never been mapped. It requires significant effort for us to understand the terrain. We know the water is very deep,” he said.

'Opportunities' for others to join search

Truss was giving a press briefing in Canberra together with the Transport Ministers from both Malaysia and China, namely Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Yang ChuanTang after a trilateral meeting.

Hishammuddin said that the search will now “give opportunities” for other nations, research institutes and private entities to come forward to aid in the search.

“I believe we are on the right track. There is a sense of urgency, ” said Hishammuddin.

Tang, who spoke in Mandarin, said that that three countries has agreed upon this: “The search will not be interrupted, not suspended, not given up on, and there will be no slack.”

“We know clearly that the area is now even broader, and the task is more difficulty and tougher,” he said.