The Australian government’s Maritime Safety Authority has a press release regarding the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, which is reproduced below.
Search operations continue for the missing Malaysia Airlines
Search operations in the Southern Indian Ocean for the missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft have been completed for the day in the Australian Search and Rescue Region.
Four aircraft were tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on Thursday to a 23,000 square kilometre area about 2500 kilometres south-west of Perth.
This followed the receipt of satellite data imagery from the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation on Thursday morning.
The imagery, on analysis by AGO, identified two objects possibly related to the missing aircraft.
The images were captured on March 16..Due to the volume of imagery being searched, and the detailed process of analysis that followed, the information was brought to the attention of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on Thursday morning.
The images have been assessed as being credible but it is possible they do not relate to the search.
The four aircraft involved in Thursday’s search covered an area of 23000 square kilometres.
Two Royal Australia Air Force AP-3C Orions, a US Navy P8 Poseidon, and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion were utilised, along with an RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft.
A merchant ship arrived in the search area on Thursday evening. Another merchant ship is en route to the area.
A total of six merchant ships have assisted in the search since a shipping broadcast was issued on Monday night.
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Success is also en route to the search area.
The search will continue on Friday.
