MH370 The missing Flight MH370 had been flying faster than previously estimated, according to a new analysis, resulting in a major shift in the search area.
According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa), the information is provided by the multinational investigations team based in Malaysia.
It is based on further analysis of military radar data of the aircraft as it flew from the South China Sea to the Straits of Malacca, up to the point where radar contact was lost.
"The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), Australia's investigation agency, has examined this advice and determined that this is the most credible lead to where debris may be located…
"It indicated that the aircraft was travelling faster than previously estimated, resulting in increased fuel usage and reducing the possible distance the aircraft travelled south into the Indian Ocean," said Amsa in a statement today.
The new search area is 1,100 kilometres north east of the current search area, about 319,000 square kilometres in size. For comparison, Malaysia's landmass is 329,613 square kilometres.
Relative to Perth where aircraft involved in the search are based, the new area is about 1,850 kilometres to the west, compared to about 2,500 kilometres to the southwest of the city.
"ATSB advises the potential flight path may be the subject of further refinement as the international investigative team supporting the search continue their analysis.
"The Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation is re-tasking satellites to image the new area," the statement added.
Six vessels - one Australian and five Chinese - are now steaming towards the new search area, while ten aircraft will attempt to spot debris from the air today.
Another P-3 Orion aircraft is on standby at the Perth military airbase to investigate any reported sightings, the statement added.
Amsa and ATSB are due to hold a press conference at Amsa’s headquarters near Canberra today to provide more details about the new search area.
The missing Boeing 777-200ER had been "deliberately diverted" from its original destination in Beijing on March 8 for unknown reasons, and the 239 on board are presumed dead.
