MH370 search to be expanded

Malaysia, Australia and China affirm their commitment to not give up until plane is located

Operation area will be extended by another 60,000 square kilometres if plane is not found by end of May

The search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will be expanded by another 60,000 square kilometres in the Indian Ocean if the jetliner is not found by May, officials said yesterday, affirming their commitment to not give up until it is located.

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that Malaysia, Australia and China, which are leading the hunt for the Boeing 777 that went missing on March 8 last year, are “committed to the search.”

He told reporters after meeting with his counterparts from the other two countries that so far 61 per cent of the 60,000 kilometre search area has been scoured off Australia’s west coast. The remaining 39 per cent would have been searched by the end of May, he said.

“If the aircraft is not found within the 60,000 square kilometres, we have collectively decided to extend the search to another 60,000 square kilometres within the highest probability area,” he said. However, searchers are hopeful they can find the plane in the current search area, he said.

The announcement removes some ambiguity about the future of the search as it was never made clear what would happen if the plane is not found. It will also come as a solace to the relatives of the victims.