Missing Malaysia Airlines jet carrying 239 triggers Southeast Asia search

[draftvader]

@CNBCWorld, Malaysian authorities have indefinitely postponed news conferences on the search for flight MH370

http://www.breakingnews.com/item/2014/03/11/per-cnbcworld-malaysian-authorities-have-indefin/

Something else for us all to chew on today. I really hope there is some kind of breakthrough today. If it is this tense for myself and everybody else posting continuously on TV and pprune then how must it be for the relatives having to deal with unreal emotions as well as this uncertainty and government silence.

[geriatrickid]

There's a suggestion on PPRuNe that the aeroplane went nose first into the ooze at the bottom of the shallow sea and buried itself there.

a plane is not stiff enough to do something like that without breaking up ,a nose dive into the sea would snap the wings off at the very least

and the transponder in the tail hasnt been pinged yet ..........

No one is searching for the transponder at this time. One has to first locate the probable wreckage. The analysis required to obtain a starting point for a search is complex and lengthy. The transponders typically have a range of between 1 and 3 nautical miles. That's why the wreckage field location is the first priority. It's the proverbial search for a needle in a haystack. If you would like to understand the analysis required please refer to the following research report that is based upon the hunt for the AF crash. It is from the French aviation authority. It details what was done and the efforts made to locate the transponder signal(s). http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/vol.af.447/metron.search.analysis.pdf

[geriatrickid]

Not arguing, but from the site you mentioned:

"Today there are reports in media that MH370 may have turned around. FR24 have not tracked this. This could have happened if the aircraft suddenly lost altitude as FR24 coverage in that area is limited to about 30000 feet."

Fair enough, but I think your concern is unfounded at this time. When a civilian airliner has previously disappeared in this manner it has been due to a disintegration of the aircraft.

[harrry]

While all this is a mystery it is worth bringing it back into perspective as a very serious tradgedy but one that can happen every day. http://rt.com/news/passenger-plane-crash-kazan-866/ may have less passengers but to their families the affect is the same.

[speedtripler]

There's a suggestion on PPRuNe that the aeroplane went nose first into the ooze at the bottom of the shallow sea and buried itself there.

a plane is not stiff enough to do something like that without breaking up ,a nose dive into the sea would snap the wings off at the very least

and the transponder in the tail hasnt been pinged yet ..........

No one is searching for the transponder at this time. One has to first locate the probable wreckage. The analysis required to obtain a starting point for a search is complex and lengthy. The transponders typically have a range of between 1 and 3 nautical miles. That's why the wreckage field location is the first priority. It's the proverbial search for a needle in a haystack. If you would like to understand the analysis required please refer to the following research report that is based upon the hunt for the AF crash. It is from the French aviation authority. It details what was done and the efforts made to locate the transponder signal(s). http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/vol.af.447/metron.search.analysis.pdf

i read another article that said the transponder emits a ping beacon for 200-300km for about a month before the battery dies

not sure which one is correct but even the US are unable to find this plane on their satellite imaging and its extremely detailed

[schondie]

Just to make this missing plane story even stranger;

http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/21903251/family-phoned-passengers-on-missing-malaysia-airlines-flight/

Not sure if this is true as Yahoo News has printed made up stories before, without checking the sources.

[angeldevil69]

What really catches my concern is why the plane disappeared from the radar and knowing where it disappeared but can locate any debris in that area.

What if the pilots disconnected the transponders and attached one from another plane?

Could the pilots have been paid a large sum by an international organization and let those two fake passport passengers in the cockpit?

Could the plane have landed safely in a military airport?

Could it be that the MH370 flight was really holding high-tech electronic warfare weaponry? There were 20 employees from Freelance Semiconductor.

There are just too many facts that doesn't add up and look like it crashed!

But what if it really landed and this what so ever organization got what they wanted, what would happen to the plane and all the passengers?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Your claims are wrong in so many ways, that it begs the question as to whether this is an attempt to cause a wind up. Intelligent, rational and mentally competent people do not make wild allegations of this kind.

Pilots disconnecting transponders and attaching one from another plane? Sure. And they also did a wing walk. "International Organization"??? News flash: Every day travelers get on planes using forged or stolen passports or other falsified travel documents. How do you think the refugee claimants arriving at LHR, FRA, YYZ, CPH etc. got there? A Malaysian civilian aircraft holding high tech electronic weaponry and going to China???? Seriously? What planet are you from? The facts you claim are not facts but statements invented by you. What's next? Alien abduction? Please don't use this thread as entertainment.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Doubts-over-why-20-Freescale-staffs-in-missing-MH--30228860.html

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[davehowden]

The 2 illegal passport holders were Iranian.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/missing-malaysia-airlines-flight-live-3224818

[Carmine6]

Just to make this missing plane story even stranger;

http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/21903251/family-phoned-passengers-on-missing-malaysia-airlines-flight/

Not sure if this is true as Yahoo News has printed made up stories before, without checking the sources.

This was reported a day or two ago. Someone here pointed out that when his phone is off and he tried calling it internationally, it makes the ringing sound as if the phone is on, but then it does not connect of course. Since apparently several Chinese have encountered the same thing it is likely that the Chinese system is making the ringing noise while it tries to locate where the phone is connected, but then goes silent when it can't make the connection.

[phuketrichard]

More speculation, conspiracy, etc etc

“Mystery” has turned to “Coverup” regarding the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, to the point that relations are outraged with officials for refusing to disclose what they know, especially after authorities tightened security around the hotel where the loved ones are, keeping them more in the dark, from the rest of the world.

Outrage over the Malaysia Airlines missing jet coverup and resulted in family members throwing objects at officials because they are hiding information learned about the plane that vanished three days ago.

Angry family members threw water bottles at an MAS spokesman and threatened to protest in front of the Malaysian embassy in China if the airline did not “disclose” the “truth,” according to International Business Times.

http://beforeitsnews.com/events/2014/03/malaysia-plane-coverup-passengers-cell-phones-ringing-gps-information-kept-secret-2432746.html?utm_medium=facebook-post&utm_source=direct-b4in.info&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fb4in.info%2FjVEL&utm_content=awesmsharetools-fbshare-small&utm_campaign

Meanwhile, 20 passengers on the missing plane are world-class electronic geeks for a major Defense contracting company that specializing in such things as weapons that disappear planes and ships for the battlefield.

They are employed by a company designing and manufacturing cutting edge electronic weaponry for the Department of Defense. Such weaponry includes those making it possible to vanish planes off the radar, as Deborah Dupré reported this weekend in the article, Malaysia Plane Hidden With Electronic Weaponry? 20 High-Tech EW Defense Passengers.

Edited March 11, 2014 by phuketrichard

[ABCer]

A very sad incident indeed.

There is little doubt that plane, passengers and crew are lost.

There are too many questions but no answers so far. The questions are:

- could it be a coincidence that a few passengers traveled on the same flight with phony passports?

- could it be a coincidence that the plane deviated from its route AND the radars didn't follow the plane?

- could it be the coincidence that the plain was not contacted when deviating from its route? The moment it did it must have been suspect.

- could it be explained that with satellite capabilities today the plane was not closely monitored? Wasn't it suspect?

- could it be explained that immigration checks did not pick up passports reported stolen and invalidated long time ago?

- could it be explained why passports cancelled by ANY country are not in ALL computer database around the world?

What good is our security if drinking water, small manicure scissors, cigarette lighters are confiscated, shoes must be taken off before some check points if

people with cancelled passports can go through?

What good is our security if luggage checked in can go with the passengers not boarded? The standard procedure is to take such luggage out even if the flight is delayed.

I think Malaysian Government and their airlines authorities have to answer all of the above questions.

Or are they so tight lipped to save the face?

[schondie]

The 2 illegal passport holders were Iranian.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/missing-malaysia-airlines-flight-live-3224818

The 12-00am update goes against everything else found so far. I certainly wouldn't trust anything in the Mirror, I'd even go as far as check the date on the front page.

Is this Mister Ali, an alleged Iranian now the scapegoat for all the blame to be pinned on Iran?

[angeldevil69]

More speculation, conspiracy, etc etc

“Mystery” has turned to “Coverup” regarding the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, to the point that relations are outraged with officials for refusing to disclose what they know, especially after authorities tightened security around the hotel where the loved ones are, keeping them more in the dark, from the rest of the world.

Outrage over the Malaysia Airlines missing jet coverup and resulted in family members throwing objects at officials because they are hiding information learned about the plane that vanished three days ago.

Angry family members threw water bottles at an MAS spokesman and threatened to protest in front of the Malaysian embassy in China if the airline did not “disclose” the “truth,” according to International Business Times.

http://beforeitsnews.com/events/2014/03/malaysia-plane-coverup-passengers-cell-phones-ringing-gps-information-kept-secret-2432746.html?utm_medium=facebook-post&utm_source=direct-b4in.info&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fb4in.info%2FjVEL&utm_content=awesmsharetools-fbshare-small&utm_campaign

Meanwhile, 20 passengers on the missing plane are world-class electronic geeks for a major Defense contracting company that specializing in such things as weapons that disappear planes and ships for the battlefield.

They are employed by a company designing and manufacturing cutting edge electronic weaponry for the Department of Defense. Such weaponry includes those making it possible to vanish planes off the radar, as Deborah Dupré reported this weekend in the article, Malaysia Plane Hidden With Electronic Weaponry? 20 High-Tech EW Defense Passengers.

UWB (Ultra Wide Band) Technology.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Mosha]

Latest News Conference called off. So either they've nowt to add, or a big announcement is coming, according to BBC.

[schondie]

All that's sure now is that the Malaysian minister isn't being honest. He should come clean about what he knows instead of dropping hints and giving teasers to the press.

Regardless of the eventual outcome, this man's career is over.

[speedtripler]

All that's sure now is that the Malaysian minister isn't being honest. He should come clean about what he knows instead of dropping hints and giving teasers to the press.

Regardless of the eventual outcome, this man's career is over.

saying one of them looks like " a bit like a footballer" and not giving any further info is taking the piss

the famalies have every right to be angry with statements like this ...........

[JDGRUEN]

Fake passengers bought tickets at Pattaya agents Flights on doomed jet booked online in Iran

Published: 11 Mar 2014 at 00.36

Bangkok Post ... Newspaper section: Thai authorities have discovered that the tickets of two people who travelled on Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 using the stolen passports of an Italian and an Austrian were been bought together from two...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/399238/fake-passengers-bought-tickets-at-pattaya-agents

[laolover88]

Item in NHK news says that The captain of a fishing boat told NHK that he saw a plane flying at a low altitude about 15 kilometers off Kota Bharu, northern Malaysia, around 1:30 AM on Saturday. He said he was surprised to see

the plane flying at a much lower altitude than usual flights.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Here's a report from NBC News, quoting a Financial Times report, that claims the tickets for the fake passport holders were purchased in Pattaya by an Iranian middleman and paid for in cash. It doesn't say anything about who the actual travelers were.

But it also said the two travelers were originally booked on separate flights with two different/other airlines, but later rebooked by the agent after the original bookings lapsed. So if this report is true, then clearly the Iranian and the travelers themselves weren't targeting Malaysia Air for anything.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709756-terror-probe-over-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet/?p=7547138

Edited March 11, 2014 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[MrWorldwide]

Pathetic effort by the 'Chinese Martyrs Brigade' - hopefully, Chinese authorities will track down the tools behind the announcement and allow them to martyr themselves. If nothing else, it'll give the media something to report on rather than rehashing the same debris sighting hour after hour.

[angeldevil69]

• Fact #1: All Boeing 777 commercial jets are equipped with black box recorders that can survive any on-board explosion

No explosion from the plane itself can destroy the black box recorders. They are bomb-proof structures that hold digital recordings of cockpit conversations as well as detailed flight data and control surface data.

• Fact #2: All black box recorders transmit locator signals for at least 30 days after falling into the ocean

Yet the black box from this particular incident hasn't been detected at all. That's why investigators are having such trouble finding it. Normally, they only need to "home in" on the black box transmitter signal. But in this case, the absence of a signal means the black box itself -- an object designed to survive powerful explosions -- has either vanished, malfunctioned or been obliterated by some powerful force beyond the worst fears of aircraft design engineers.

• Fact #3: Many parts of destroyed aircraft are naturally bouyant and will float in water

In past cases of aircraft destroyed over the ocean or crashing into the ocean, debris has always been spotted floating on the surface of the water. That's because -- as you may recall from the safety briefing you've learned to ignore -- "your seat cushion may be used as a flotation device."

Yes, seat cushions float. So do many other non-metallic aircraft parts. If Flight 370 was brought down by an explosion of some sort, there would be massive debris floating on the ocean, and that debris would not be difficult to spot. The fact that it has not yet been spotted only adds to the mystery of how Flight 370 appears to have literally vanished from the face of the Earth.

• Fact #4: If a missile destroyed Flight 370, the missile would have left a radar signature

One theory currently circulating on the 'net is that a missile brought down the airliner, somehow blasting the aircraft and all its contents to "smithereens" -- which means very tiny pieces of matter that are undetectable as debris.

The problem with this theory is that there exists no known ground-to-air or air-to-air missile with such a capability. All known missiles generate tremendous debris when they explode on target. Both the missile and the debris produce very large radar signatures which would be easily visible to both military vessels and air traffic authorities.

• Fact #5: The location of the aircraft when it vanished is not a mystery

Air traffic controllers have full details of almost exactly where the aircraft was at the moment it vanished. They know the location, elevation and airspeed -- three pieces of information which can readily be used to estimate the likely location of debris.

Remember: air safety investigators are not stupid people. They've seen mid-air explosions before, and they know how debris falls. There is already a substantial data set of airline explosions and crashes from which investigators can make well-educated guesses about where debris should be found. And yet, even armed with all this experience and information, they remain totally baffled on what happened to Flight 370.

• Fact #6: If Flight 370 was hijacked, it would not have vanished from radar

Hijacking an airplane does not cause it to simply vanish from radar. Even if transponders are disabled on the aircraft, ground radar can still readily track the location of the aircraft using so-called "passive" radar (classic ground-based radar systems that emit a signal and monitor its reflection).

Thus, the theory that the flight was hijacked makes no sense whatsoever. When planes are hijacked, they do not magically vanish from radar.

Conclusion: Flight 370 did not explode; it vanished

The inescapable conclusion from what we know so far is that Flight 370 seems to have utterly and inexplicably vanished. It clearly was not hijacked (unless there is a cover-up regarding the radar data), and we can all be increasingly confident by the hour that this was not a mid-air explosion (unless debris suddenly turns up that they've somehow missed all along).

The inescapable conclusion is that Flight 370 simply vanished in some way that we do not yet understand. This is what is currently giving rise to all sorts of bizarre-sounding theories across the 'net, including discussions of possible secret military weapons tests, Bermuda Triangle-like ripples in the fabric of spacetime, and even conjecture that non-terrestrial (alien) technology may have teleported the plane away.

Personally, I'm not buying any of that without a lot more evidence. The most likely explanation so far is that the debris simply hasn't been found yet because it fell over an area which is somehow outside the search zone. But as each day goes by, even this explanation becomes harder and harder to swallow.

The frightening part about all this is not that we will find the debris of Flight 370; but rather that we won't. If we never find the debris, it means some entirely new, mysterious and powerful force is at work on our planet which can pluck airplanes out of the sky without leaving behind even a shred of evidence.

If there does exist a weapon with such capabilities, whoever control it already has the ability to dominate all of Earth's nations with a fearsome military weapon of unimaginable power. That thought is a lot more scary than the idea of an aircraft suffering a fatal mechanical failure.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/044244_Malaysia_Airlines_Flight_370_vanished.html#ixzz2vcQBaQiz

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Fake passengers bought tickets at Pattaya agents Flights on doomed jet booked online in Iran

Published: 11 Mar 2014 at 00.36

Bangkok Post ... Newspaper section: Thai authorities have discovered that the tickets of two people who travelled on Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 using the stolen passports of an Italian and an Austrian were been bought together from two...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/399238/fake-passengers-bought-tickets-at-pattaya-agents

There's actually a lot of common info between the BKK Post article and the Financial Times account I just linked above:

The Thai police are saying they don't know who booked the tickets (great work BIB)

But both articles give accounts from the travel agency of the Iranian "Mr. Ali" making the request. The Post says Ali was in Iran and made the request by email. The FT account is silent on that point. But both have similar details about the flights originally not being booked on Malaysia Air, but later changed. And also that a "friend" of Mr. Ali came to the travel agency to pay for the tickets.

I think the Post headline is somewhat wrong to say the tickets were "booked online in Iran." The tickets were requested via an email sent from a guy in Iran, according to the Post report. And then the Thai travel agents in Pattaya booked the tickets per that request.

[webfact]

China 'deploys satellites' in search for Malaysia plane

BEIJING - Beijing is deploying as many as 10 satellites in hopes of tracking down Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, state media reported Tuesday, as the search for the vanished aircraft entered its fourth day.

The high-resolution satellites, which are controlled from the Xian Satellite Control Centre in northern China, will be used for navigation, weather monitoring, communications and other aspects of the search-and-rescue effort, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Daily said.

Nearly two-thirds of the 239 people aboard flight MH370 were from China, and if the loss of the aircraft is confirmed, it would be China’s second-worst ever air disaster.

Crews from nine countries have joined the international search effort, including China, Malaysia, the United States, Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, Indonesia, Australia and Thailand.

AFP


-- The Nation 2014-03-11

[bkkjames]

• Fact #1: All Boeing 777 commercial jets are equipped with black box recorders that can survive any on-board explosion

No explosion from the plane itself can destroy the black box recorders. They are bomb-proof structures that hold digital recordings of cockpit conversations as well as detailed flight data and control surface data.

• Fact #2: All black box recorders transmit locator signals for at least 30 days after falling into the ocean

Yet the black box from this particular incident hasn't been detected at all. That's why investigators are having such trouble finding it. Normally, they only need to "home in" on the black box transmitter signal. But in this case, the absence of a signal means the black box itself -- an object designed to survive powerful explosions -- has either vanished, malfunctioned or been obliterated by some powerful force beyond the worst fears of aircraft design engineers.

• Fact #3: Many parts of destroyed aircraft are naturally bouyant and will float in water

In past cases of aircraft destroyed over the ocean or crashing into the ocean, debris has always been spotted floating on the surface of the water. That's because -- as you may recall from the safety briefing you've learned to ignore -- "your seat cushion may be used as a flotation device."

Yes, seat cushions float. So do many other non-metallic aircraft parts. If Flight 370 was brought down by an explosion of some sort, there would be massive debris floating on the ocean, and that debris would not be difficult to spot. The fact that it has not yet been spotted only adds to the mystery of how Flight 370 appears to have literally vanished from the face of the Earth.

• Fact #4: If a missile destroyed Flight 370, the missile would have left a radar signature

One theory currently circulating on the 'net is that a missile brought down the airliner, somehow blasting the aircraft and all its contents to "smithereens" -- which means very tiny pieces of matter that are undetectable as debris.

The problem with this theory is that there exists no known ground-to-air or air-to-air missile with such a capability. All known missiles generate tremendous debris when they explode on target. Both the missile and the debris produce very large radar signatures which would be easily visible to both military vessels and air traffic authorities.

• Fact #5: The location of the aircraft when it vanished is not a mystery

Air traffic controllers have full details of almost exactly where the aircraft was at the moment it vanished. They know the location, elevation and airspeed -- three pieces of information which can readily be used to estimate the likely location of debris.

Remember: air safety investigators are not stupid people. They've seen mid-air explosions before, and they know how debris falls. There is already a substantial data set of airline explosions and crashes from which investigators can make well-educated guesses about where debris should be found. And yet, even armed with all this experience and information, they remain totally baffled on what happened to Flight 370.

• Fact #6: If Flight 370 was hijacked, it would not have vanished from radar

Hijacking an airplane does not cause it to simply vanish from radar. Even if transponders are disabled on the aircraft, ground radar can still readily track the location of the aircraft using so-called "passive" radar (classic ground-based radar systems that emit a signal and monitor its reflection).

Thus, the theory that the flight was hijacked makes no sense whatsoever. When planes are hijacked, they do not magically vanish from radar.

Conclusion: Flight 370 did not explode; it vanished

The inescapable conclusion from what we know so far is that Flight 370 seems to have utterly and inexplicably vanished. It clearly was not hijacked (unless there is a cover-up regarding the radar data), and we can all be increasingly confident by the hour that this was not a mid-air explosion (unless debris suddenly turns up that they've somehow missed all along).

The inescapable conclusion is that Flight 370 simply vanished in some way that we do not yet understand. This is what is currently giving rise to all sorts of bizarre-sounding theories across the 'net, including discussions of possible secret military weapons tests, Bermuda Triangle-like ripples in the fabric of spacetime, and even conjecture that non-terrestrial (alien) technology may have teleported the plane away.

Personally, I'm not buying any of that without a lot more evidence. The most likely explanation so far is that the debris simply hasn't been found yet because it fell over an area which is somehow outside the search zone. But as each day goes by, even this explanation becomes harder and harder to swallow.

The frightening part about all this is not that we will find the debris of Flight 370; but rather that we won't. If we never find the debris, it means some entirely new, mysterious and powerful force is at work on our planet which can pluck airplanes out of the sky without leaving behind even a shred of evidence.

If there does exist a weapon with such capabilities, whoever control it already has the ability to dominate all of Earth's nations with a fearsome military weapon of unimaginable power. That thought is a lot more scary than the idea of an aircraft suffering a fatal mechanical failure.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/044244_Malaysia_Airlines_Flight_370_vanished.html#ixzz2vcQBaQiz

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I didn't learn anymore from the link you presented, just exactly the same text word for word.

Keep looking at the 20 IT guys onboard + Iran links to tickets purchased and I pretty sure the answer will emerge...eventually.

[harrry]

An interesting tribute page for the pilot. It would seem lack of competance was not a problem.

http://www.sharelor.net/1/post/2014/03/tribute-who-exactly-is-malaysia-airlines-captain-zaharie-shah-of-mh370.html

[steven100]

Pathetic effort by the 'Chinese Martyrs Brigade' - hopefully, Chinese authorities will track down the tools behind the announcement and allow them to martyr themselves. If nothing else, it'll give the media something to report on rather than rehashing the same debris sighting hour after hour.

Good thing we've got you on the case Sherlock. I'm sure the chinese will investigate this group and it's pathetic claim.

[laolover88]

China 'deploys satellites' in search for Malaysia plane

BEIJING - Beijing is deploying as many as 10 satellites in hopes of tracking down Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, state media reported Tuesday, as the search for the vanished aircraft entered its fourth day.

The high-resolution satellites, which are controlled from the Xian Satellite Control Centre in northern China, will be used for navigation, weather monitoring, communications and other aspects of the search-and-rescue effort, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Daily said.

Nearly two-thirds of the 239 people aboard flight MH370 were from China, and if the loss of the aircraft is confirmed, it would be Chinas second-worst ever air disaster.

Crews from nine countries have joined the international search effort, including China, Malaysia, the United States, Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, Indonesia, Australia and Thailand.

AFP

-- The Nation 2014-03-11

This will surely help; (though quite why US satellites have not discovered something is odd) I fear they really don't know where to look, but are surely looking in the wrong places, hence the maritime patrol aircraft

in the Malacca straights.

[angeldevil69]

• Fact #1: All Boeing 777 commercial jets are equipped with black box recorders that can survive any on-board explosion

Can they landed the plane and has removed the black boxes?

At this time, anything could be possible! I just think that we will never know the true story of what really has happened!

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[bkkjames]

China 'deploys satellites' in search for Malaysia plane

BEIJING - Beijing is deploying as many as 10 satellites in hopes of tracking down Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, state media reported Tuesday, as the search for the vanished aircraft entered its fourth day.

The high-resolution satellites, which are controlled from the Xian Satellite Control Centre in northern China, will be used for navigation, weather monitoring, communications and other aspects of the search-and-rescue effort, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Daily said.

Nearly two-thirds of the 239 people aboard flight MH370 were from China, and if the loss of the aircraft is confirmed, it would be Chinas second-worst ever air disaster.

Crews from nine countries have joined the international search effort, including China, Malaysia, the United States, Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, Indonesia, Australia and Thailand.

AFP

-- The Nation 2014-03-11

This will surely help; (though quite why US satellites have not discovered something is odd) I fear they really don't know where to look, but are surely looking in the wrong places, hence the maritime patrol aircraft

in the Malacca straights.

pretty sure that they (spooks) have found it and are trying to recover sensitive materials on-board...red herrings abound. Who knows for sure.

[canuckamuck]

The only conclusion I can make so far is that this thing didn't break up in the air in a predictable place. Outside of that all options are still on the table (except those from the space weapon crowd)