MH370: Airbus Defence satellite sees 122 new objects
Montage of Airbus Defence satellite images 23 March in search zone
Malaysia authorities tonight reported that an Airbus Defence satellite last Sunday 23 March imaged 122 objects potentially related to the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and that the photos were forwarded to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority yesterday.
The acting transport minister and minister of defence Hishammuddin Hussein said the objects, found over a wide area, ranged from one metre across to as large as 23 metres, and that some of them appeared bright, suggesting they were solid.
The minister emphasised that it was not known if any of the objects were in fact debris from the lost Boeing 777-200ER that took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on 8 March.
However he released a montage of photos showing the objects seen through breaks in the clouds, as well as a catalogue ranking the objects by size and precise coordinates.
Hishammuddin Hussein said it was imperative to link those objects to the lost aircraft which was carrying 239 people or discount them, so that the search could move to the next more focused stage in recovering aircraft parts and determining the likely location of its black box voice and data recorders.
He said the Airbus Defence images were bracketed between the location of sightings of potential objects made by an Australian Orion and a Chinese IL-76 on Monday as shown in this map provided by the Malaysia authorities (below).
The minister said an expanded working party was attempting to further refine the Inmarsat satellite data which made it clear that MH370 flew south into the southern Indian Ocean 2500 kilometres or more from Perth where it ran out of fuel and crashed some time after it had been airborne for seven hours 31 minutes.
He was not asked to comment further on the disclosure in the previous briefing that the Inmarsat that was picking up standby electronic traces of MH370 broadcast by its disabled ACARS or automated data reporting system also heard an incomplete signal from the jet seven hours 39 minutes after it had left KL.
Questions asked about the state of mind or fitness to fly of MH370′s captain were brushed aside.
Tonight’s briefing was the briefest yet.
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Outstanding reporting Ben. I’ve been watching this blog like a hawke during this utterly baffling event. So much just doesn’t add up…
I disregarded the previous reports about the Captain… that he had a suspicious flight simulator, and he was a supporter of Malaysia’s opposition leader, Anwar. Most of it was garbage reporting.
However, the NZ Herald story titled, ‘Flight MH370: Pilot in wrong state of mind to fly – friend’ caught my attention as being highly relevant.
But will the Malaysian authorities release any of this kind of information? Judging by today’s press conference, and the avoidance of the topic, we can safely assume that Malaysia does not want the world to know.
I hope the new images that Airbus prepared will help to find the missing Boeing.
Just to clarify, when I said “garbage reporting”, I was referring to the general tabloid media.
I agree with Tamas, that Ben’s journalism is the best source of information on MH370.
They will never release that information (assuming it was even true) for two good reasons: it will be highly speculative in nature, and to be fair that would just invite a trial by media.
With all due respect to the Malaysians (or Airbus?), that image is a crock of shit. Coordinates do not plot as marked (typos?), nor do they fit the overall dimensions shown. Here: http://members.optusnet.com.au/anon10/MH370.kmz
I know we’re working under pressure here, but guys, WTF?
The reports today highlight the human condition, and remind us again of Dumas:
” There is a woman in every case; as soon as they bring me a report, I say, ‘Look for the woman”
Cherchez la femme, the story would point us. Sigh. So banal, the affairs of men. I do hope it is proved eventually to be otherwise.
I just noticed a press report, that the American Legal Industry has already jumped on the bandwagon and started suing Malaysian Airlines, Boeing and presumably anyone else they think they can get money out of. This sorry saga is about to get much uglier. And they haven’t even found the wreckage yet. I’m not often stuck for words. But I’m stuck for words right now.
Just out of interest , here is a highly relevant story in Aviation Week-Things with Wings Blog.
“How the Pros Look for Aviation Wreckage”
http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:7a78f54e-b3dd-4fa6-ae6e-dff2ffd7bdbb&plckPostId=Blog:7a78f54e-b3dd-4fa6-ae6e-dff2ffd7bdbbPost:a6b5c98a-44d6-41df-b1f4-7d9e052e5f9b
Accountant, I saw that mentioned on the news as well. I wonder what they will be “suing” for? Then again I am not really surprised; people have sued in the States for being given coffee that is too hot and won. Next thing you know they will be suing Immarsat for wrongful death.
The gathering lawsuits will surely spell the end for Malaysia Airlines.
They were on the edge before this. Mega lawsuits will see the airline close, and join other post-crash airlines such as Pan Am and TWA.
What has transpired so far re the incorporation details of the HULL Underwriters (aircraft), the P&I Underwriters (Protection & Indemnity = liability for the CARGO) and the Underwriters of MAS’ liability for the deceased PASSENGERS ? Who/where are these Underwriters ? Hope/expect MAS were scrupulously à-jour with their Insurance Matters = paperwork and Premium payments ?
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