The Bluefin-21 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle sits in the water after being deployed from the Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield in the southern Indian Ocean during the continuing search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 in this picture released by the Australian Defence Force yesterday. – Reuters pic, April 18, 2014.
The mini submarine hunting for wreckage of missing flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean detected nothing of interest in its fourth mission today, dashing hopes of a definitive answer to the whereabouts of the jetliner.
“Bluefin-21 has searched approximately 110 square kilometres to date. Data analysis from the fourth mission did not provide any contacts of interest,” Australia’s Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC) said in a statement.
The search team added that the autonomous search drone has already been deployed for its fifth mission.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority today said it has planned a visual search area totalling approximately 51,870 square kilometres, across three areas.
AFP yesterday reported that officials said an oil slick sighted during the sea search for flight MH370 did not come from the plane.
“Preliminary analysis of the sample collected by ADV Ocean Shield has confirmed that it is not aircraft engine oil or hydraulic fluid," JACC said.
The announcement yesterday was the latest setback in an operation marked by false leads and frustrated hopes.
Up to 11 military aircraft and 12 ships will assist in today's search for the missing jetliner which disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 with 239 people aboard. – April 18, 2014.
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com
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