Flight MH370: Search zone narrows to smallest area yet to find missing plane

The search for the missing flight has been narrowed to a 22,000-square-mile area as two further signals were detected in the southern Indian Ocean.

17:25 10 April 2014

Australian authorities are optimistic as two further signals were detected in the southern Indian Ocean. Following the breakthrough, ten military aircraft, four civil planes, and 13 ships have joined the search to speed up the process and narrow the search down.  

 

The Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) announced that the search will now focus on 22,364 square miles of the Indian Ocean.

 

The narrowed search effort comes after aircraft and ships reported spotting several objects during yesterday’s operation. 

 

Search coordinator Angus Houston said: "I'm now optimistic that we will find the aircraft, or what is left of the aircraft, in the not too distant future.” 

 

"But we haven't found it yet, because this is a very challenging business."

 

A source said that no further pings have been recorded during today’s search effort. 

 

A JACC spokesman said: "No further acoustic events have been detected at this time.”

 

"Ocean Shield is not yet at the point of deploying its Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).

 

"Ocean Shield is continuing its search in an attempt to localise the detection of the signal.

 

"The more Ocean Shield can refine the area with the Towed Pinger Locator, the less area the AUV will be required to cover."