Summary of imagery analyses for non-natural objects in support of the search for Flight MH370: results from the analysis of imagery from the PLEIADES 1A satellite undertaken by Geoscience Australia

On 8 March 2014, the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft registered as Malaysia Airlines 9M-MRO and operating as flight MH370 (MH370) disappeared from air traffic control radar after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on a scheduled passenger service to Beijing, China with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board. After analysis of satellite data it was discovered that MH370 continued to fly for over six hours after contact was lost. All the available data indicates the aircraft entered the sea close to a long but narrow arc of the southern Indian Ocean. On 31 March 2014, following an extensive sea and air search, the Malaysian Government accepted the Australian Government’s offer to take the lead in the search and recovery operation in the southern Indian Ocean in support of the Malaysian accident investigation. On behalf of Australia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) coordinated and led the search operations for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean. Geoscience Australia (GA) provided advice, expertise and support to the ATSB in sea floor mapping (bathymetric survey) and the underwater search. In March 2017 GA was subsequently asked by the ATSB to provide advice and scientific expertise in the analysis of satellite imagery (PLEIADES 1A) (Source: French Military Intelligence Service © CNES) for the detection of possible non-natural objects. All enquiries regarding the overall search should be directed to the ATSB (atsbinfo@atsb.gov.au).