Search for missing Malaysia Airline flight turns up old shipwreck
Postmedia Network
First posted: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 03:37 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 04:26 PM EDT
Searchers haven't located missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 yet, but they have stumbled across a shipwreck in the depths of the Indian Ocean that appears to be from the 19th century.
Not only is the find important in its own right, but it also proves the search equipment works, the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) said Wednesday.
Officials in charge of the search for MH370 hoped a debris field located by sonar data might be the missing jet. But images captured by an underwater camera confirmed the debris, which included an anchor, is that of a ship.
Michael McCarthy of the Western Australian Museum told The Associated Press the debris looks like it's from a 19th-century vessel.
The wreck is uncharted, the ATSB said, and the imagery will be sent to expert marine archaeologists for possible identification.
Meanwhile, the search for MH370 continues.
"It's a fascinating find," the ATSB's Peter Foley said in a statement, "but it's not what we're looking for. We're not pausing in the search for MH370 -- in fact, the vessels have already moved on to continue the mission. Obviously, we're disappointed that it wasn't the aircraft, but we were always realistic about the likelihood."
Still, the discovery offers hope that MH370 may yet be found, Foley said.
"This event has really demonstrated that the systems, people and the equipment involved in the search are working well. It's shown that if there's a debris field in the search area, we'll find it," Foley said.
The Malaysia Airlines jet, carrying 239 passengers and crew, went missing in March 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Searchers for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have found ship-related debris, including an anchor, seen here on the sea floor. The shipwreck in the depths of the Indian Ocean appears to be from the 19th century. (Supplied image Australian Government/Australian Transport Safety Bureau)
White sea stars can be seen on some of the ship-related debris on the sea floor, while the black objects are believed to be lumps of coal. (Supplied image Australian Government/Australian Transport Safety Bureau)
Search for missing Malaysia Airline flight turns up old shipwreck | World | News
Postmedia Network
First posted: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 03:37 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 04:26 PM EDT
Searchers haven't located missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 yet, but they have stumbled across a shipwreck in the depths of the Indian Ocean that appears to be from the 19th century.
Not only is the find important in its own right, but it also proves the search equipment works, the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) said Wednesday.
Officials in charge of the search for MH370 hoped a debris field located by sonar data might be the missing jet. But images captured by an underwater camera confirmed the debris, which included an anchor, is that of a ship.
Michael McCarthy of the Western Australian Museum told The Associated Press the debris looks like it's from a 19th-century vessel.
The wreck is uncharted, the ATSB said, and the imagery will be sent to expert marine archaeologists for possible identification.
Meanwhile, the search for MH370 continues.
"It's a fascinating find," the ATSB's Peter Foley said in a statement, "but it's not what we're looking for. We're not pausing in the search for MH370 -- in fact, the vessels have already moved on to continue the mission. Obviously, we're disappointed that it wasn't the aircraft, but we were always realistic about the likelihood."
Still, the discovery offers hope that MH370 may yet be found, Foley said.
"This event has really demonstrated that the systems, people and the equipment involved in the search are working well. It's shown that if there's a debris field in the search area, we'll find it," Foley said.
The Malaysia Airlines jet, carrying 239 passengers and crew, went missing in March 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Searchers for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have found ship-related debris, including an anchor, seen here on the sea floor. The shipwreck in the depths of the Indian Ocean appears to be from the 19th century. (Supplied image Australian Government/Australian Transport Safety Bureau)
White sea stars can be seen on some of the ship-related debris on the sea floor, while the black objects are believed to be lumps of coal. (Supplied image Australian Government/Australian Transport Safety Bureau)
Search for missing Malaysia Airline flight turns up old shipwreck | World | News