The search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 would be doubled if nothing is found in the current search areas, according to the statement released by officials.
The announcement came from Australian, Malaysian and Chinese ministers meeting to discuss and monitor the progress of the search operation. The plane, MH 370, flying from the Malaysian capital to Beijing,China, disappeared on 8 March 2014 with 239 people aboard. It is believed to have crashed off the coast of Western Australia, but so far no strong evidence has ever been found.
About 40% of the regions have been thoroughly searched. However, if nothing is found, the search shall be extended by another 60,000 sq km to “cover the entire highest probability area identified by expert analysis”, a joint statement released from the ministers. The additional, extensive search area could take up to another year to complete given adverse weather conditions in the upcoming winter months, the statement said.
Investigators still do not know what had exactly happened to the plane. The search zone has been roughly based on the early analysis of hourly “handshakes” between the plane and a communications satellite.
There is still no explanation as to why the jet deviated from its actual path and flew far off course. The investigators and the kith and kin of the victims, however, continue to maintain hopes of finding their beloved.
