Search for MH370 might be in wrong spot, investigators say

MH370 investigators have acknowledged they may be looking in the wrong place for the missing aircraft despite this week’s commencement of an underwater search.

An updated flight path analysis released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau sets out how investigators reached the conclusions they have, in regards to the Boeing 777’s final resting place.

But the report is careful to note that analysis is ongoing and that may result in “changes to the prioritisation and location of search activity”.

The Malaysia Airlines plane was carrying 239 people when it disappeared seven months ago on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

The latest report lists the aircraft’s “handshakes” with a satellite communication system and explains how that information was used to refine the final probable location.

“This area (on the seventh arc) does not contain all the possible derived paths (of MH370),” the report notes.

“The ongoing refinement may result in changes to search asset deployment.”

The vessel GO Phoenix began an underwater search of a site 1800km southwest of Perth on Monday using side scan sonar equipment to detect objects sticking above the sea floor.

It is yet to discover anything of interest.

A second search vessel, Fugro Discovery, is due to head out to its designated site from the Port of Fremantle on Saturday.

The Fugro Equator is continuing to map the sea floor and should complete its bathymetric surveys by the end of the month.

It is then expected to assist with the search.

The mystery surrounding its fate has generated many theories as to what may have happened to the Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 239 passengers and crew.

Investigators have refused to speculate on its fate but the latest report is based on the assumption the aircraft was flying on autopilot and ran out of fuel before crashing into the ocean.

Using Boeing 777 simulators, the analysts have surmised the right engine ran out of fuel followed by the “flame-out” of the left engine.

“This scenario resulted in the aircraft entering a descending spiralling low bank angle left turn and the aircraft entering the water in a relatively short distance after the last engine flame-out,” the report states.

A statement issued this week by families of those on-board appealed to be kept informed of any developments in the search and investigation.