122 Objects Spotted in Search for Malaysia Jet
The objects were spotted in new French satellite photos of the search area, 2,500 kilometers from the southwest Australian city of Perth.
BANGKOK — Malaysia says recent satellite images have spotted 122 possible objects related to the search for the wreckage of a missing Malaysia airliner in the southern Indian Ocean. Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says the objects ranged from one meter to 23 meters in length and that some appeared to be bright, possibly indicating solid materials. He told reporters Wednesday the objects were spotted in new French satellite photos of the search area, 2,500 kilometers from the southwest Australian city of Perth. The news came as the search resumed, following a 24-hour delay because of bad weather. At least 12 planes and two ships from several are currently involved in the search. Malaysian officials say satellite data shows the Boeing 777 almost certainly crashed into the sea, far from any land. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott vowed his country will do "all it can" to recover Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and bring closure to the families of the victims. "I have pledged to Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia full Australian cooperation in the recovery and investigation operation. The crash zone is as close to nowhere as it's possible to be, but it's closer to Australia than anywhere else." Meanwhile, China has demanded that Malaysia turn over the satellite data used to conclude that the jetliner had crashed. Beijing has sent Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui as a special envoy to Malaysia to meet with officials, including Prime Minister Najib on Wednesday. Two-thirds of the plane's passengers were Chinese. Many of their families have refused to accept Malaysia's determination that the plane crashed. On Tuesday, dozens of angry Chinese relatives protested outside the Malaysian embassy in Beijing demanding to know the "truth" about the plane. The plane, which was carrying 239 people, went missing without a distress call on March 8, hours after departing Kuala Lumpur for Beijing.