Originally, the ATSB-led search team was supposed to complete the remaining 15,000 sq kms of the 120,000 sq kms search zone in the southern Indian Ocean this month. Malaysia Airlines’ MH370 disappeared on 8 March 2014 on a routine Kuala Lumpur to Beijing flight. There were 239 passengers and crew on board the Boeing-777.
According to the report, it has been nearly a month since the search vessels have been able to use the sensitive equipment scouring the ocean floor for any sign of the missing plane. The dreadful weather, sending up waves as high as 20 metres, has apparently played havoc with the search vessels.
Besides Fugro Discovery, two other ships engaged in the hunt are Fugro Equator and Dong Hai Jiu 101, a Chinese vessel. Most of the passengers on board MH370 were Chinese. There were six Australian nationals and permanent residents on board the missing plane.
The update from the ATSB acknowledged the severe impact to search operations from “recent poor weather conditions”.
“It is now anticipated it may take until July or August to complete the 120,000 square kilometres but this will be influenced by weather conditions over the winter months,” said the update.
“Poor conditions have prevented the safe deployment of deep tow search equipment from any of the vessels for the past three weeks.”
These conditions make it unsafe for crew to perform some activities and to access some areas, such as the back working deck, concluded the update.
Malaysia, Australia and China have since agreed that the search for MH370 will not continue after the current budget runs out unless new evidence emerges on the exact location of the ill-fated aircraft.
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