LONDON - The satellite operator Inmarsat said Monday it managed to work out which direction the missing Malaysia Airlines plane flew in by measuring the Doppler effect of hourly 'pings' from the aircraft.
Malaysia's prime minister announced earlier that the Inmarsat analysis of flight MH370's path placed its last position in remote waters off Australia's west coast, meaning it can only have run out of fuel above the southern Indian Ocean.
Inmarsat explained how they plotted models of the flight's route by measuring the Doppler effect of satellite pings, giving corridors arcing north and south along which the plane could have flown for at least five hours.
Despite the plane's communication systems being switched off, satellite pings were still bouncing back from the aircraft, which which vanished on March 8 with 239 people on board while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
The pings are sent from a ground station to a satellite, then onto the plane, which automatically sends a ping back to the satellite and down to the ground station.
They do not include global positioning system (GPS) data, time or distance information.
So the British satellite operator measured the amount of time it took for the pings to be returned.
"We looked at the Doppler effect, which is the change in frequency due to the movement of a satellite in its orbit," Chris McLaughlin, Inmarsat's senior vice president of external affairs, told Britain's Sky News television.
"What that then gave us was a predicted path for the northerly route and a predicted path the southerly route."
"We don't know whether the plane stayed at a constant speed; we don't know whether its headings changed subsequently," he explained.
Therefore, "we applied the autopilot speeds - about 350 knots. We applied what we knew about the fuel and range of the aircraft to hit the series of ping information we had.
"Normally you'd want to triangulate, often you'd have GPS. But because aircraft in that region are not mandated to send out signals of their location we were working from blind, so this is very much a unique approach - the first time it's been done."
Ran out of fuel
They then compared those figures to data from other Malaysia Airlines planes and similar flight routes, which definitively showed the plane could only have been going down the southern corridor, and would eventually have run out of fuel.
They established an "extraordinary matching" between Inmarsat's predicted southern path and readings from other planes on such routes.
The BBC reported that as far as could could be worked out, the plane was flying at a cruising height, above 30,000 feet (9,100 metres). They found no evidence of fluctuating heights.
Inmarsat handed over new information to Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch on Sunday for checking.
"By yesterday they were able to definitively say that the plane had undoubtedly taken the southern route," said McLaughlin.
He called for all commercial aircraft to be fitted with existing technology that would mean a plane cannot go missing.
Retracing flight MH370
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Reuters photographer Edgar Su took the journey aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH318, which has replaced the flight number of missing passenger jet MH370
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Passengers line up for a security screening before boarding. Su boarded the flight in Kuala Lumpur and documented the journey to Beijing.
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A passenger in line for security screening.
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Passengers during the security screening.
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Malaysia Airlines flight MH318 on the tarmac. The missing jet’s flight number, MH370, has been retired as a mark of respect to the passengers and crew.
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Passengers board flight MH318.
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Passengers make their way to the jet.
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Passengers take their seats aboard MH318.
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A welcome message shortly after take off.
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Passengers rest during the flight.
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A cabin crew member serves snacks.
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The cabin crew prepare to serve breakfast.
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The plane's flight path as it cruises over the South China Sea towards Beijing.
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Passengers rest during the flight.
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MH318's flight path
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A passenger uses her tablet as others sleep en-route to Beijing.
Blackbox locator days away from MH370 search zone
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A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion conducts a low level fly-by before dropping supplies to Australian Navy ship HMAS Toowoomba as they continue to search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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Able Seaman Boatswains Mate Chandler looks though a pair of binoculars during search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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Search and rescue officials in Australia are confident they know the approximate position of the black box recorders from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday.
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Leading Seaman Aircrewman Joel Young is lowered into the water from Australian Navy ship HMAS Toowoomba's S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter, Tiger 75, to retrieve possible debris as they continue to search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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At the same time, however, the head of the agency coordinating the search said that the latest "ping" signal, which was captured by a listening device buoy on Thursday, was not related to the plane.
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Able Seaman Maritime Logistics Steward Scott keeps watch aboard Australian Navy ship HMAS Success during search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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China's PLA Navy Liaison Officer Commander Lin, talks to Commanding Officer of the Australian Navy ship HMAS Success Captain Norris, as they continue to search in the Indian Ocean for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion flying past Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield on a mission to drop sonar buoys to assist in the acoustic search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
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The hunt for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 is on track to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, becoming the most expensive search in aviation history with 26 countries contributing planes, ships, submarines and satellites to the international effort.
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Two fresh signals have been picked up Australian ship Ocean Shield in the search for missing Malaysian flight MH370, raising hopes that wreckage will be found within days even as black box batteries start to expire.
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Australian Defence shows Able Seaman Boatswain's Mate Cameron Grant directing the boat coxswain on a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) of HMAS Perth while searching for debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
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Graphics on a TV screen shows pinger locator detections during the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, during a media briefing at Dumas House in Perth
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Graphics on a TV screen shows the current search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, during a media briefing at Dumas House in Perth
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Angus Houston, head of the Joint Agency Coordination Centre leading the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, listens as Commodore Peter Leavy of the Royal Australian Navy, speaks at a media conference in Perth on April 9.
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The AP-3C Orion returns to RAAF Base Pearce after a day of searching an area in the Indian Ocean for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370
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Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P3C crew receive instructions before departing to Pearce Airbase to continue search operations of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 at Subang Airbase near Kuala Lumpur
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Crew members are seen aboard a fast response craft from Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield as they continue to search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 in southern Indian Ocean
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Australian officials said on April 9, 2014 that two new "ping" signals had been detected in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew.
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The hunt for underwater signals from missing Flight MH370 is likely to continue for days before a robot submersible is deployed to comb the seabed, the Australian search chief said on April 8, 2014.
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Able Seaman Clearance Divers Matthew Johnston (R) and Michael Arnold from the Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield scanning the water for debris of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
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Able Seaman Clearance Diver Matthew Johnston is towed by a fast response craft as he searches the ocean for debris of the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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A helicopter leaving the flight deck of HMAS SUCCESS as it completes a replenishment at Sea with Royal Malaysian Navy frigate KD Lekiu whilst taking part in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
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Commander James Lybrand (2/L), Mission Commander on the Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield, watching as Mike Unzicker (L) from Phoenix International monitors the feed from the towed pinger locator during the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
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The NDV Ocean Shield has detected new underwater signals consistent with aircraft black boxes, the search chief said on April 7, describing it as the "most promising lead" so far in the month-old hunt for missing Flight MH370.
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Angus Houston (2nd L), head of the Joint Agency Coordination Centre leading the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, and Commodore Peter Leavy (L) of the Royal Australian Navy attend a media conference in Perth on April 6
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Planes and ships were being diverted on April 6 to the area where a Chinese vessel detected signals consistent with a black box beacon in the hunt for missing flight MH370, the search chief said.
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A helicopter makes an approach to the flight deck of Australian Navy ship HMAS Toowoomba to pick up supplies as they continue to search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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Two vessels were searching underwater for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on Saturday, as air and sea missions failed to find any sign of the plane and the clock ticked on the signal from its black box.
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The towed pinger locator (TPL-25) is towed behind the Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield in the southern Indian Ocean during the search for the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder of the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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The towed pinger locator (TPL-25) sits on the deck of the Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield
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Phoenix International personnel, Mike Unzicker and Chris Minor prepare to deploy the towed pinger locator off the deck of Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield
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A crew member aboard a RNZAF P3 Orion maritime search aircraft reacts as he looks at screens while flying over the southern Indian Ocean looking for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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Japanese ground crew prepare one of their nation's Air Force Orion planes for takes off from Pearce Airbase in Bullsbrook, 35 km north of Perth, to join the hunt for the missing MH370 plane in the Indian Ocean
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An Australian Air Force Orion takes off from Pearce Airbase in Bullsbrook, 35 km north of Perth, to join the hunt for a missing Malaysia Airlines plane in the Indian Ocean on April 6
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A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion aircraft prepares to take off from RAAF Base Pearce near Perth
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Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01 detected a pulse signal in the south Indian Ocean on Saturday, in a possible indicator of the underwater beacon from a plane's "black box".
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The Chinese ship searching for flight MH370 detected a "pulse signal" in the southern Indian Ocean on April 5, 2014 but there was no evidence yet that it was linked to the missing plane.
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The Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield is tasked to drag a U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving towed pinger locator, an undersea Navy drone to help locate the black box pinger from sunken wreckage of Flight MH370,
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Nicholas Woods, captain of the Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield speaks to the press from the bridge of the ship.
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Nicholas Woods, captain of the Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield.
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U.S. Navy Captain Mark Matthews holds up a sample of a flight recorder's black box acoustic beacon during a news conference.
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U.S. Navy Captain Mark Matthews holds up a sample of a flight recorder's black box acoustic beacon during a news conference at HMAS Stirling naval base.
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A U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) towed pinger locator (R) is pictured on a dock at HMAS Stirling naval base near Perth.
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A U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) towed pinger locator is pictured on a dock at HMAS Stirling naval base near Perth.
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A U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) towed pinger locator is pictured on a dock at HMAS Stirling naval base near Perth.
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File photo of a black box recovered from SilkAir MI 185 which crashed in the Musi River in Indonesia.
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A Malaysia Airlines plane is pictured at Perth International Airport as a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft (rear) moved past following a search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
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Members of the Japan Disaster Relief Team watch the arrival of a Gulfstream 5 carrying members of Japan's Coast Guard, at RAAF base Pearce near Perth.
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Workers assemble a Blue Fin 21 automatic Underwater Vehicle, an autonomous sonar mapping device, which will be towed behind the Australian Defence Vessel 'Ocean Shield' during search operations for missing flight MH370.
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A woman writes on a wall dedicated to the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 before the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix at Sepang.
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Workers assemble a Blue Fin 21 automatic Underwater Vehicle, an autonomous sonar mapping device, which will be towed behind the Australian Defence Vessel 'Ocean Shield' during search operations.
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Director of Ocean Engineering of the US Navy, captain Mark Matthews holds the acoustic pinger they are searching for from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
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Recovery of Flight MH370
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Sightings in south Indian Ocean
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A Thai satellite has detected 300 floating objects in the Indian Ocean, about 200 kilometers from the international search area.
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Thailand's GISTDA has released satellite images of hundreds of floating objects near the MH370 search area in the Indian Ocean.
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Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) personnel unload a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce, before flying over the southern Indian Ocean to participate in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
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Severe weather halted an air and sea search for a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet presumed crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, frustrating hopes of finding what new satellite images showed could be a large debris field.
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A Chinese Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft used in search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 prepares to land at Perth International Airport
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New satellite images have revealed more than 100 objects in the southern Indian Ocean that could be debris from a Malaysian jetliner missing for 18 days, while planes scouring the frigid seas also reported seeing potential wreckage.
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Sensor Employment Manager Neville Dawson keeps watches screens displaying imagery aboard a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion aircraft while searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 over the southern Indian Ocean
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RAAF Navigation / Communications Officer Brittany Sharpe operates from her station onboard a AP-3C Orion during a search mission in the Southern Indian Ocean
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Malaysia's acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin holds satellite images during a news conference at Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur
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Malaysian Lieutenant General Ackbal Samad shows a map showing possible track of Malaysia Airlines MH370 to relatives of passengers aboard the missing plane, during a briefing by Malaysian government at Lido Hotel in Beijing
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A Malaysian air force general reacts as he answers a question from a relative of passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 during a meeting at the Metro Park Lido Hotel in Beijing
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A satellite photo, showing the location of unknown objects reported by the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA) in the Indian Ocean, is seen in this handout photo taken by the MRSA on March 23
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Satellite images of objects sighted in Indian Ocean on 23 March 2014.
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Personnel from a Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream aircraft inspect the plane after arriving at RAAF Pearce airbase in Perth
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A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force AP-3C Orion arrives back at RAAF Base Peace at Bullsbrook, after continuing the search for debris or wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean
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Britain's Inmarsat used a wave phenomenon discovered in the nineteenth century to analyse the seven pings its satellite picked up from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 to determine its final destination.
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The findings led Malaysian PM Najib Razak to conclude that the Boeing 777 crashed thousands of miles away in the southern Indian Ocean, killing all 239 people on board.
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This map shows the possible routes taken by flight MH370 if it was moving at constant speeds of 400 knot (740km/h) and 450 knot (833km/h) respectively.
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An infographic illustrating the Doppler effect
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This graph released by the Malaysian authorities shows the following: The blue line is the burst frequency offset measured at the ground station for MH370, the green line is the predicted burst frequency offset for the southern route, which over the last 6 handshakes show close correlation with the measured values for MH370. The red line is the predicted burst frequency offset for the northern route, which over the last 6 handshakes does not correlate with the measured values for MH370.
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British firm Inmarsat developed a new technique which analyses the speed of the aircraft relative to the satellite.
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MH370: From South China Sea to southern Indian Ocean
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MH370: Sequence of events
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Australian Defence Minister David Johnston holds a press briefing at Pearce Airbase in Bullsbrook, 35 kms north of Perth on March 25, 2014
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Wild weather halted the search on March 25 for wreckage from the Malaysia Airlines jet that crashed into the Indian Ocean, frustrating attempts to determine why it veered off course and bring closure to grieving relatives.
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Australian Defence Minister Johnston and RAAF Group Captain Heap walk from press conference at RAAF base Pearce near Perth
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A Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat is launched by the crew of the Australian Navy ship, HMAS Success, as it travels to investigate a potential object sighting in the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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Crew members of the Australian Navy ship, HMAS Success, look out from the deck after a potential sighting was reported in the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said gale force winds, heavy rain and low cloud meant planes could not fly safely, and heavy seas meant an Australian navy ship was leaving the area where possible debris had been sighted on Monday.
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Crew members of the Australian Navy ship, HMAS Success, look for any potential sightings for debris in the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370
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Crew members of the Australian Navy ship, HMAS Success, use a spotlight as they look for debris in the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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Two Chinese Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 aircrafts used in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are towed at Perth International Airport
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Crew of Chinese Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft used in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 walk away from plane in Perth
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Crewmen of an RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft looking out of their observation windows whilst searching for missing Malaysia Airways flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean.
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Co-pilot, flying officer Marc Smith and crew of an RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft at low level in bad weather searching for missing Malaysia Airways flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean.
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Crew members on board an RAAF AP-3C Orion whilst transiting at high altitude on what was to be an 11 hour search mission for missing Malaysia Airways flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean.
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Crew members on board an RAAF AP-3C Orion working out their critical fuel figures whilst transiting at high altitude on what was to be an 11 hour search mission for missing Malaysia Airways flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean.
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Crew members on board an RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft looking at their radar screens whilst searching for missing Malaysia Airways flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean.
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Crew members on board an RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft looking at their radar screens whilst searching for missing Malaysia Airways flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean.
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The air and sea search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 that crashed in the Indian Ocean was suspended on March 25 due to gale force winds, rain and big waves, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.
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An RAAF AP-3C Orion at high altitude transiting back to RAAF Pearce airbase in Perth, Western Australia having just completed an 11 hour search mission for missing Malaysia Airways Flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean.
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Crew members on board an RAAF AP-3C Orion crossing the coast of Perth, having just completed an 11 hour search mission for missing Malaysia Airways flight MH370 before landing at the RAAF Pearce airbase in Perth.
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The crew of one of two Chinese Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 aircrafts used in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 walk away from their plane on the tarmac of Perth International Airport
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Crew of Chinese Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 aircrafts used in search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 push the plane's tow bar away in Perth
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Chinese Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft being used in search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, is towed on tarmac of Perth International Airport
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Chinese Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft used in search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, is towed on tarmac of Perth International Airport
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Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein shows a note from the Chinese ambassador stating that they have received new satellite images during the search for missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370
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China has new satellite images of one or more floating objects that could be related to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Hishammuddin said.
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The satellite image released by China.
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It was not immediately clear how many possible objects had been spotted, but the minister said one was estimated at 22 metres by 30 metre
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Acting Australian Prime Minister Warren Truss holds a press conference at the RAAF Base Pearce after meeting with pilots, crew and maintenance personnel of the RAAF Orions currently searching for the missing Malaysian Airlines MH370
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High-tech satellites and sophisticated radar systems have been used, but the search now turns on the success of scouring the seas by eye, seeking anything that may have come from Flight MH370.
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The crew of a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion aircraft participating in the Australian Maritime Safety Authority-led search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the Southern Indian Ocean.
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A crew member on a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion aircraft participating in the Australian Maritime Safety Authority-led search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the Southern Indian Ocean
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A RNZAF Orion takes off from Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce in Bullsbrook, some 35 kms north of Perth, as air force flights searching for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean
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RAAF Warrant Officer Mikeska looks out of a RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft as it flies over the southern Indian Ocean in search for the missing Malaysian Airlines MH370
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A crew member on a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion aircraft participating in the Australian Maritime Safety Authority-led search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the Southern Indian Ocean.
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Australian Defence personnel stand guard in front of RAAF Orions at RAAF Base Pearce which are being used in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370
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The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane is taking place over one of the harshest and most isolated points on the planet, in a patch of southern Indian Ocean from where Antarctica beckons.
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A RAAF AP-3C Orion is pictured upon its return from a search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean, at RAAF Base Pearce north of Perth
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A RAAF AP-3C co-pilot gives a thumbs up to ground crew upon his return from a search of Malaysian Airline Flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean, at RAAF Base Pearce north of Perth
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RAAF AP-3C Orion pilot Adams speaks to the press upon his return from a search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean, at RAAF Base Pearce north of Perth
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A Royal Australian Air Force P-3 Orion aircraft takes off from RAAF Base Pearce to look for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370
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RAAF Pilot Flight Lieutenant Brett pilots a RAAF C-130J Hercules as it prepares to launch two Self Locating Data Marker Buoys in the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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RAAF Loadmasters, Sergeant Roberts and Flight Sergeant Mancey, launch a 'Self Locating Data Marker Buoy' from a C-130J Hercules aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing MH370
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A Royal Australian Air Force P-3 Orion aircraft takes off from RAAF Base Pearce north of Perth
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A Royal Australian Air Force Flight Engineer keeps watch for debris in an AP-3C Orion over the Southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines MH370
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RAAF Loadmaster Sergeant Roberts scans the ocean while onboard a C-130J Hercules as it flies over the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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RAAF Pilot Flying Officer Dudman monitors the systems of a RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft as it prepares to launch two Self Locating Data Marker Buoys in the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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Royal Australian Air Force Navigation and Communications Officer, Flying Officer Brittany Sharpe from 10 Squadron, coordinates all communications between her AP-3C Orion and other aircraft involved in the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
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RAAF crew members from of an AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft walk down a ladder after they arrived in Perth after searching an area in the southern Indian Ocean for signs of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
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The flight crew from a RAAF P-3 Orion aircraft step off the plane after it returned from a search of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, at RAAF Base Pearce north of Perth
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Members of the media set up their equipment at the the entrance of Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce in Bullsbrook, some 35 kms north of Perth, as air force flights searching for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean leave and arrive the base on March 21, 2014.
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A TV crew from Phoenix Television report alongside a RAAF P-3 Orion aircraft which had just returned from a search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, at RAAF Base Pearce
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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks at a joint press conference with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill in Port Moresby on March 21, 2014.
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China's President Xi Jinping is "devastated" by the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said after a phone call between the two.
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At least seven Chinese ships are reported to head for the southern Indian Ocean, where possible debris from a missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 plane has been sighted.
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Chinese Antarctic research icebreaker Xue Long
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Crew load supplies onto Chinese Antarctic research icebreaker Xue Long as it prepares to depart Fremantle Habour
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A man trolleys boxes as Chinese Antarctic research icebreaker Xue Long prepares to depart Fremantle Habour
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Crew members load supplies onto Chinese Antarctic research icebreaker Xue Long as it prepares to depart Fremantle Habour
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Australia said images of debris spotted by satellite 2,500 km south-west of Perth are "credible sightings". Four planes have been diverted to the area to locate them.
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Satellite imagery provided to AMSA of objects that may be possible debris of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370
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Australian officials said the objects were spotted by satellite in one of the remotest parts of the globe, around 2,500 km southwest of Perth in the vast oceans between Australia, southern Africa and Antarctica.
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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott tells parliament in Canberra that satellite imagery has found two objects possibly related to the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
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Air Commodore John McGarry (left) listens as John Young, Australian Maritime Safety Aiuthority emergency response general manager, speaks to the media about the discovery from satellite imagery of objects possibly related to the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in Canberra
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A diagram showing the search area for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean is seen during a briefing at AMSA in Canberra
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Royal Australian Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Russell Adams from 10 Squadron, flying his AP-3C Orion over the Southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.
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Royal Australian Air Force Airborne Electronics Analyst Flight Sergeant Tom Stewart from 10 Squadron watching a radar screen for signs of debris on board an AP-3C Orion over the Southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.
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Royal Australian Air Force Tactical Coordinator, Flying Officer Imray Cooray from 10 Squadron coordinating the execution of a search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on board an AP-3C Orion over the Southern Indian Ocean.
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US Naval pilots attached to Patrol Squadron (VP) 16, fly a P-8A Poseidon during a mission over the Indian Ocean to assist in search and rescue operations for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
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Young, general manager of the emergency response division of AMSA, stands in front of a diagram showing the search area for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 during a briefing in Canberra
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