Searching in all the wrong places
The agency leading the search operation for the missing Malaysian plane stated today that the 850 square kilometers off the Australian coast is not the 'final resting place of MH370.'
The search in the area began after four acoustic pings, believed to be coming from the airplane's black boxes, were heard early in April. Now, everyone in the operation is convinced that the sounds came from some other man-made source and had nothing to do with the jetline.
The Bluefin 21 unmanned submersible deployed searched every inch of the ocean floor except one northern part of the area where the water was too deep. The cost of the vehicle added $60,000 more for everyday it was used.
'The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has advised that the search in the vicinity of the acoustic detections can now be considered complete and in its professional judgment, the area can now be discounted as the final resting place of MH370,' reported the Joint Agency Coordination Center.
The next phase of the search operation will ensue only after two months or more have passed and will involve help given from private companies. Costs estimated for this phase rise up to $60 million.
The team will begin investigating a much broader area, comprising of 60,000 square kilometers.