Australian authorities are investigating whether items that have washed ashore near Augusta at the south-western tip of Australia are connected to MH370.

 

When asked about the new development, Department of Civil Aviation director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman confirms receiving a report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on this, but stressed that it has yet be verified to be part of the missing aircraft.

 

He described the objects as being "plastic sheets".

 

Earlier today, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) said Western Australia police have recovered the objects 10 kilometres east of Augusta.

 

"The ATSB is examining the photographs of the material to determine whether further physical analysis is required and if there is any relevance to the search of missing flight MH370," it said.

 

The online news portal Perth Now quotes the broadcaster Nine News saying that there were three objects, including one described as being the length of a car with "distinct rivets".

 

The report also quotes unnamed investigators saying that the investigation on the objects could take days, and urged caution saying that the more they studied it, the less excited of the finding they become.

Meanwhile at the same press conference, Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says he has not seen a letter purported to be from the next-of-kin of MH370 passengers urging the government to search for the plane in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

 

Following earlier reports quoting Russian intelligence sources, the letter urges investigators in Malaysia to consider engaging with Russian and Afghan governments to verify the report, according to the online news portal Free Malaysia Today.

 

When asked to comment on claims that the missing aircraft may be in Kandahar, Hishammuddin says, "That is in the realm of speculation and I will not, again, answer unless it has been verified and corroborated."