Search area for missing Malaysia Airlines flight can be doubledApril 16, 2015 - 17:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will be doubled if nothing is found in the current search zone, officials say, according to BBC News. The announcement came from Australian, Malaysian and Chinese ministers meeting to discuss progress. The plane, flying from the Malaysian capital to Beijing, disappeared on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board. It is believed to have crashed off Western Australia, but so far no trace has been found. At the moment teams using sophisticated sonar equipment are scouring a 60,000 sq km (23,000 sq mile) area of seabed far west of the Australian city of Perth. About 40% of this remains to be searched. If nothing is found, the search will be extended by another 60,000 sq km to "cover the entire highest probability area identified by expert analysis", a joint statement from the ministers said. The additional search area could take up to a year to complete given adverse weather conditions in the upcoming winter months, the statement said. Investigators still do not know what happened to the plane. The search zone has been defined based on analysis of hourly "handshakes" between the plane and a communications satellite. There is still no explanation as to why it flew so far off course - making finding the plane and its "black box" voice recorders key to understanding its fate. "We are confident we are searching in the right area,'' Australian Transport Minister Warren Truss told journalists after the meeting. "We are confident we have the best search equipment... if the plane is in the area we will find it.'' Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |