These videos illustrate different aspects of the search for MH370. You may use this material under a creative commons license(Opens in a new tab/window). That license allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publication provided that you attribute the work.
At the request of the Malaysian Government, Australia accepted responsibility for the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. After the conclusion of the surface search, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) led the underwater search for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
Each week, from 10 September 2014 to 11 January 2017, an operational update was published, tracking the progress of the search effort and identifying noteworthy developments.
At a meeting of Ministers from Malaysia, Australia and the People’s Republic of China held on 22 July 2016, it was agreed that should the aircraft not be located in the current search area, and in the absence of credible new evidence leading to the identification of a specific location of the aircraft, the search would be suspended upon completion of the current search area.
As such, the search for MH370 was suspended on 17 January 2017.
On 8 March 2014, a Boeing 777 aircraft, operated as Malaysia Airlines flight 370 (MH370), was lost during a flight from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Beijing in the People’s Republic of China, carrying 12 crew and 227 passengers.
Under Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation “Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation”, Malaysia, as the state of registry and operation of MH370, had investigative responsibility for the missing aircraft. At the request of the Malaysian Government, the Australian Government accepted responsibility for initial search and recovery operations in the southern part of the Indian Ocean on 17 March 2014.
In accordance with paragraphs 5.23 and 5.24 of Annex 13, on 1 April 2014, the ATSB appointed an accredited representative to the investigation, along with a number of advisors (ATSB investigators). These investigators’ work was undertaken as part of an External Investigation (AE-2014-054) under the provisions of the Australian Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003. The ATSB accredited representative and advisors provided support to the Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370 (MIASIT).
On 31 March 2014, the Malaysian Government accepted the Government of Australia’s offer to lead the search and recovery operation in the southern Indian Ocean in support of the Malaysian accident investigation. On 28 April 2014, the surface search for MH370 coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was concluded and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) assumed responsibility for conducting the underwater search for the aircraft.
ATSB assistance and expertise was provided through the accredited representative mechanism of Annex 13, under AE-2014-054.On 2 July 2018, the MIASIT submitted its investigation report to the Malaysian Ministry of Transport (MOT). It was released on 30 July 2018, at which point the ATSB’s work in support of Malaysia’s Annex 13 investigation was finalised.
The ATSB AE-2014-054 investigation produced the following ATSB reports:
On 8 March 2014, a Boeing 777 aircraft operated as Malaysia Airlines flight 370 (MH370) was lost during a flight from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Beijing in the People’s Republic of China carrying 12 crew and 227 passengers. The search for the missing aircraft commenced on 8 March 2014 and continued for 1,046 days until 17 January 2017 when it was suspended in accordance with a decision made by a tripartite of Governments, being Malaysia, Australia and the People’s Republic of China. [
This short report re-examines the question of how effective the March-April surface search was for ‘ruling out’ segments of the 7th arc as being the location of MH370. [
This is the CSIRO's third report describing oceanographic drift modelling work done in aid of the search for 9M-MRO (the Boeing 777 aircraft flying Malaysia Airlines service MH370 on 8 March 2014). [
This report explores the possibility that an improved ability to simulate the path taken by the flaperon across the Indian Ocean might yield an improved estimate of the location of the remains of the aircraft on the sea floor. [
This report details the results of a comprehensive attempt to use drift modelling to inform efforts to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (registered 9M-MRO). It differs from earlier attempts to do this in several important ways, which, along with other developments, have enabled it to come up with a location of the aircraft that is much more precise than we thought was possible. [
Geoscience Australia (GA) was asked to assist the Australian Transport Safety Authority (ATSB) in the analysis of a set of four Airbus PLEIADES 1A images. GA received these images for analysis on the 23rd March 2017. [
This report documents the proceedings and outcomes of the First Principles Review meeting on the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 held in Canberra from 2 to 4 November 2016. Participants consisted of experts in data processing, satellite communications, accident investigation, aircraft performance, flight operations, sonar data, acoustic data and oceanography. The purpose of the meeting was to reassess and validate existing evidence and to identify any new analysis that may assist in identifying the location of the missing aircraft. [
The MH370 Search and debris examination update provides an update to the MH370 search area definition described in previous ATSB reports. It comprises further analysis of satellite data, additional end of flight simulations, a summary of the analysis of the right outboard wing flap, and preliminary results from the enhanced debris drift modelling. [
]The DSTG analysis of Inmarsat data was published in the paper, The Use of Burst Frequency Offsets in the Search for MH370(Opens in a new tab/window).
Debris examination reports including the identification of items recovered from beaches in South Africa, Mauritius and the Tanzanian coast can be found in the 'Debris reports' tab within the scrolling ribbon navigation towards the top of this page.
The MH370 Search Strategy Working Group conducted ongoing analysis of data to glean any information that might assist in locating the aircraft. To this end, the ATSB engaged the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) to provide expert analysis of available data relating to MH370. The analysis used models of the Inmarsat satellite communications data, aircraft dynamics and meteorological data to determine likely flight paths which were in turn subject to validation experiments to ensure they aligned with actual flight data. [
]The DSTG analysis has been published in the book, Bayesian Methods in the Search for MH370(Opens in a new tab/window)
An updated version of the ATSB report was released on 10 December 2015 to clarify that the ‘power loss’ mentioned on page 9 occurring between 17:07:48 and 18:03:41 was referring to the Satellite Data Unit (SDU) only. The SDU did not respond to an automatic interrogation from the Ground Earth System (GES) at 18:03:41 UTC, although it resumed working at 18:25:27.
The location of the search areas was guided by continuing and innovative analysis by a Joint Investigation Team of the flight and satellite-communications data. This analysis was supplemented by other information provided to ATSB during this period. This included possible underwater locator beacon and hydrophone acoustic detections. [
]Refinements to the analysis of the flight and satellite-communications data gave greater certainty about when the aircraft turned south into the Indian Ocean. This analysis was published to supplement the previously released report MH370 – Definition of Underwater Search Areas. [
]These images may be used under a creative commons licence for the work in the following terms: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.(Opens in a new tab/window)
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia Licence is a standard form license agreement that allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publication provided that you attribute the work.
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Information and analysis of satellite data and drift modelling identified an area set out in the map and labelled as the 7th arc. At the time MH370 reached this arc, the aircraft is considered to have exhausted its fuel and to have been descending. As a result, it was determined that the aircraft was unlikely to be more than 27.5 NM (51 km) to the west or 25 NM (46 km) to the east of the arc.
Based on all the independent analysis of satellite communications and aircraft performance, the total extent of the 7th arc reaches from latitude 20 degrees S to 40 degrees S.
Click map to enlarge
Before the underwater search for MH370 could begin, it was necessary to accurately map the seafloor to ensure that the search is undertaken safely and effectively. Bathymetric survey vessels spent months at sea, scanning the seafloor with multibeam sonar to gather detailed, high-resolution data. The data revealed many seabed features for the first time.
In addition to locating the aircraft, the underwater search aimed to map the MH370 debris field in order to identify and prioritise the recovery of specific aircraft components, including flight recorders, which would assist with the Malaysian investigation. The ATSB utilised the data from the bathymetric survey work to prepare the initial plan for the underwater search, to be followed and referred to by all parties involved. The plan included search timings, methods, procedures, safety precautions and the initial search areas for the various vessels.
Additional maps showing the search areas, the progress of the bathymetric survey and details of the undersea terrain are available in the gallery at our images web page.
The ATSB encourages constructive feedback.
On 8 March 2014, the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft registered as Malaysia Airlines 9M-MRO and operating as flight MH370 (MH370) disappeared from air traffic control radar after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on a scheduled passenger service to Beijing, China with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board.
After analysis of satellite data it was discovered that MH370 continued to fly for over six hours after contact was lost. All the available data indicates the aircraft entered the sea close to a long but narrow arc of the southern Indian Ocean.
On 31 March 2014, following an extensive sea and air search, the Malaysian Government accepted the Australian Government’s offer to take the lead in the search and recovery operation in the southern Indian Ocean in support of the Malaysian accident investigation.
On behalf of Australia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) coordinated and led the search operations for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
At a meeting of Ministers from Malaysia, Australia and the People’s Republic of China held on 22 July 2016, it was agreed that should the aircraft not be located in the current search area, and in the absence of credible new evidence leading to the identification of a specific location of the aircraft, the search would be suspended upon completion of the current search area.
As such, the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was suspended on 17 January 2017.
The ATSB’s involvement in the search officially concluded in October 2017 with the release of our report, titled The Operational Search for MH370, which documented the ways in which the search area was identified, and how the search was conducted.
While the role of the ATSB was mainly to coordinate the underwater search for the missing aircraft, governments from around the world contributed to the search, with extraordinary expertise committed to the task of locating the missing aircraft.
It remained the role of the Malaysian Government to conduct the Annex 13 investigation.
The ATSB is unable to provide answers regarding, or comment on, the Annex 13 investigation, all enquiries pertaining to Malaysia’s investigation, or to provide information that could lead to locating the missing aircraft, need to be submitted to the Ministry of Transport Malaysia: www.mot.gov.my(Opens in a new tab/window)
The ATSB remains hopeful that new and significant evidence becomes available in the future to help locate the missing aircraft and those on board.
Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System.
Accredited representative. In accordance with Annex 13, the ATSB may assist other overseas agencies in the investigation of accidents and serious incidents that do not involve Australian registered aircraft. In these cases an ATSB investigator would be appointed to the investigation as an accredited representative. On 1 April 2014 the ATSB appointed an accredited representative to the MH370 investigation, at the request of the Malaysian Government.
Australian Defence Force.
Australian Federal Police.
Any part of the earth's atmosphere that can be used by an aircraft. It is a three-dimensional space where aircraft can operate.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944) provides the international Standards and Recommended Practices for Aircraft Accident Inquiries and was developed by ICAO. These practices are the basis for aviation accident, serious incident and incident investigations, accident prevention and accident and serious incident reporting.
Air traffic control. ATC is used to manage the safe and orderly flow of aircraft into, out of, and across airspace.
Australia, as signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944; the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974; and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, is responsible for search and rescue over a vast area (52.8 million square kilometres) made up of the East Indian, South-west Pacific and Southern oceans. Australia has the same boundaries for aviation and maritime search and rescue.
An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is a battery-powered self-propelled underwater vehicle that can be launched and retrieved from a search vessel and is pre-programmed with a search mission. The vehicle may be fitted with instruments including sonar and optical imaging systems.
The study and mapping of sea floor topography. It involves obtaining measurements of the ocean depth and is equivalent to mapping topography on land.
A scale of wind force, developed in 1805 by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, which uses observations of the effects of wind on the sea surface to estimate wind speed. Measurements range from 0 (calm) through to 12+ (hurricane).
Burst frequency offset. BFO is a measure of the difference between the expected frequency of a satellite transmission and the frequency received at the ground station.
Bureau of Meteorology.
Burst Timing Offset. BTO is a measure of the time taken for a satellite transmission round trip (ground station to satellite to aircraft and back) and allows a calculation of the distance between the satellite and the aircraft.
Airspace that is actively monitored and managed by air traffic controllers. To enter controlled airspace, an aircraft must first gain a clearance from an air traffic controller.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
Cockpit Voice Recorder. A CVR is a recorder placed in an aircraft for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of an aircraft accident or incident. It records the total audio environment of the cockpit area.
Cyclones are low pressure systems that form over warm tropical waters and have gale force winds (sustained winds of 63 km/h or greater and gusts in excess of 90 km/h) near the centre.
Department of Civil Aviation, Malaysia.
DEFTECH is a Malaysian Government defence contractor. It is responsible for the procurement and contract management of chosen operators in the search for MH370, such as Phoenix International.
A steel weight that is towed behind a search vessel on a long cable in front of the towfish, to help stabilise it. This allows the towfish to “fly” with less motion above the seafloor, while gathering detailed imagery.
Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
Expression of Interest.
Flight Data Recorder. An FDR is a recorder placed in an aircraft for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of an aircraft accident or incident. It records flight parameters such as indicated airspeed.
Fugro Survey Pty Ltd is the Australian owned subsidiary of the Dutch based company, Fugro N.V. It is contracted by the Australian Government to provide vessels, personnel and equipment to conduct a bathymetric survey and underwater search operations for MH370. It operates the vessels Fugro Discovery, Fugro Equator and Fugro Supporter.
Geoscience Australia.
Ground earth station. A satellite ground station sends or receives data from orbiting satellites.
The company, GO Marine, is a subcontractor to Phoenix International. It owns the vessel GO Phoenix used for underwater search operations.
Satellite log-on interrogation messages that originate at the ground earth station and are transmitted through the satellite to the aircraft’s satellite communication system.
International Civil Aviation Organization.
A satellite communications company based in the United Kingdom. It owns and operates a global satellite network and is a member of the SSWG.
Joint Agency Coordination Centre.
A unit of speed that is equal to one nautical mile (1.852km) per hour.
Multibeam echo sounder.
Ministry of Transport, Malaysia.
A unit of distance based on the circumference of the earth, used for marine charting and navigating. One nautical mile (NM) is equal to 1.852km.
Phoenix International Holdings Inc. is a company based in the United States. It has been contracted by DEFTECH to supply a vessel, equipment and experts in the search for MH370.
A pulse of sonar sound.
Primary (or terminal area) radar relies on radio waves reflecting off metallic objects and is effective within a short range from the radar head, which is usually located at an airport.
An area, 20 NM to the west or 30 NM to the east of the seventh arc that has been determined as a probable location for MH370, by analysing satellite communications and aircraft performance.
Request for Expressions of Interest.
Request for Tender.
Royal Malaysian Police.
Synthetic Aperture Sonar. A sonar system which uses sophisticated post-processing of sonar data to combine a number of sonar pings to form an image with higher resolution than conventional sonar.
Satellite communications.
A description of sea conditions, recorded using the World Meteorological Organization Sea State Codes. Measurements range from 0 (calm) through to 9 (phenomenal).
Secondary (or en route) radar returns are dependent on a transponder in the aircraft to reply to an interrogation from a radar ground station.
Independent analysis of satellite communications and aircraft performance confirms MH370 will be found in close proximity to the arc labelled as the 7th arc. The arc extends from latitude 20 degrees south to latitude 39 degrees south. At the time MH370 reached this arc the aircraft is considered to have exhausted its fuel and to have been descending.
SL Hydrospheric (Hydrospheric Solutions) is a subcontractor to Phoenix International. It provides Synthetic Aperture Sonar equipment for MH370 underwater search operations.
A floating buoy equipped with an acoustic receiver and a radio transmitter that emits radio signals when it detects underwater sounds.
Sidescan sonar.
Search Strategy Working Group. Coordinated by the ATSB, the group of international satellite and aircraft specialists has been working towards defining the most probable position of MH370, at the time of the last satellite communications.
A surface search for MH370 was conducted from 18 March to 28 April 2014. Coordinated by AMSA and the JACC, it was carried out by an international fleet of aircraft and ships along the seventh arc.
The amount of time it takes a vessel to go from its port of departure, out to sea and return to port.
A vehicle which is towed behind a search vessel. The vehicle may be fitted with instruments including sonar and optical imaging systems.
Towed Pinger Locator. A TPL is a device that is towed behind a vessel for detecting the signals being emitted from an underwater locator beacon fitted to an aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder.
A device that emits an identifying signal in response to an interrogating received signal from a communications satellite or ground station.
Shared by or involving three parties. Tripartite meetings that make decisions with regard to MH370 involve the governments of Australia, Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China.
Underwater locator beacon. A device attached to aviation flight recorders that when immersed in water emits an acoustic signal, to assist with locating an aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder.
Airspace that has no supervision by air traffic control, so no clearance is required.
Coordinated Universal Time. UTC is the worldwide standard for time and date.
Western Australia Police.
A predetermined geographical position that is defined in terms of latitude and longitude coordinates, used for navigation.
Missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370’s aircraft registration number.
The following factsheets provide useful background information on the operational search for MH370.
