Is this Malaysia Airlines flight MH370? New sonar images of two box-like shapes deep in the Indian Ocean 'strongly indicate aircraft debris' - but searchers can't reach them for three months

  • 'Category 3' debris images from Fugro Survey and Malaysia's Go Phoenix operation are likely parts of a plane
  • Images from the sonar scouring of the sea-bed are categorised as either 1, 2 or 3 - with 3 being the most significant
  • In one sonar photo box-like images are visible on the sea floor and the other shows long thin objects 
  • Fugro boss Steve Duffield says only calm seas in November will allow closer examination by underwater vehicle
  • 'That's [when we] we are able to do broad area searches that identifies a number of contacts,' says Duffield

By Frank Coletta for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 05:30 EST, 12 August 2015 | Updated: 10:36 EST, 13 August 2015

An Australian recovery team scouring the southern Indian ocean claims to have made significant finds they consider to most likely be parts of the MH370 wreckage.

The images are described as 'Category 3' sonar finds - images from the sonar scouring of the sea-bed are categorised as either 1, 2 or 3, with 3 being the most likely to be aircraft debris. They show two box-like images, and the other five long but very thin objects on the sea-bed.

Steve Duffield, the managing director of Fugro Survey based in WA, told Daily Mail Australia that these pictures taken by his company and Malaysia's Go Phoenix operation could provide the next breakthrough in the investigation.

This sonar image taken by the Malaysian contracted Go Phoenix identified two square-like objects with are deemed Category Three - considered most likely to be plane debris

This sonar image taken by the Malaysian contracted Go Phoenix identified two square-like objects with are deemed Category Three - considered most likely to be plane debris

This image taken by the Fugro Survey team in the southern Indian Ocean is rated a Category Three, meaning it's more likely to be parts of a plane. These will be further examined by an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) once seas become more calm.

This image taken by the Fugro Survey team in the southern Indian Ocean is rated a Category Three, meaning it's more likely to be parts of a plane. These will be further examined by an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) once seas become more calm.

The latest MH370 search area map shows the priority search area in orange, medium search area in blue, wide search is the larger grey shade and previous priority in yellow

The latest MH370 search area map shows the priority search area in orange, medium search area in blue, wide search is the larger grey shade and previous priority in yellow

The area in purple is designated as the Fugro team's search area, forming part of the 120,000 square kilometre zone

The area in purple is designated as the Fugro team's search area, forming part of the 120,000 square kilometre zone

Enduring mystery: New sonar images have revealed two box-like shapes in the initial search area days after MH370 debris was found thousands of miles away on La Reunion island near Madagascar

A three-dimensional view of sea-floor terrain salvage crews are working within in the southern Indian Ocean

A three-dimensional view of sea-floor terrain salvage crews are working within in the southern Indian Ocean

Steve Duffield, the managing director of Fugro Survey based in WA, believes the new pictures taken by his company and Malaysia's Go Phoenix operation could be the next breakthrough in finding missing flight MH370

Steve Duffield, the managing director of Fugro Survey based in WA, believes the new pictures taken by his company and Malaysia's Go Phoenix operation could be the next breakthrough in finding missing flight MH370

The Fugro Equator pictured in Fremantle Harbour for re-supply on Wednesday. The vessel is part of MH370 search operations in the southern Indian Ocean

The Fugro Equator pictured in Fremantle Harbour for re-supply on Wednesday. The vessel is part of MH370 search operations in the southern Indian Ocean

Fugro has been working in concert with the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau for more than a year in the $60 million MH370 salvage attempt, providing the vessels Discovery and Equator.

The ships and 30-member crews are rotated weeks at a time and swapped roles once more on Wednesday.

While Mr Duffield admitted the washed-up wing on Reunion Island late last month represented a very significant outcome, he is convinced that more evidence will be found through hard work in calmer sea conditions. 

It's because of this that Mr Duffield warns the enthusiasm surrounding these Category 3 images should be kept in check for now as direct discoveries may still take a long time coming because of the severe winter weather. 

Officers carry part of a wing from an aircraft washed ashore on La Reunion island in July now thought to be of doomed flight MH370

Officers carry part of a wing from an aircraft washed ashore on La Reunion island in July now thought to be of doomed flight MH370

Part of the wing which washed ashore on Reunion Island in late July. Fugro Discovery's Steve Duffield says the salvage crews are hopeful their 'Category Three' finds will be significant in the coming months

Part of the wing which washed ashore on Reunion Island in late July. Fugro Discovery's Steve Duffield says the salvage crews are hopeful their 'Category Three' finds will be significant in the coming months

A French Gendarme inspects debris gathered by members of local ecological associations and volunteers on Reunion Island during search operations for the missing MH370

A French Gendarme inspects debris gathered by members of local ecological associations and volunteers on Reunion Island during search operations for the missing MH370

There have been many objects located on the coast of Saint Andre since part of a wing was washed ashore. To date no other debris has been deemed to be part of a plane

There have been many objects located on the coast of Saint Andre since part of a wing was washed ashore. To date no other debris has been deemed to be part of a plane

A man shows a figurine of South-Korean singer Psy found during a search of employees of environmental protection and coastal cleanup organisations for debris from the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on a beach in Sainte-Marie de la Reunion

All manner of items, including bottles (left) and even figurines like this one (at right) of famed South Korean performer Psy, have been located in the area in which part of a wing believed to be of ill-fated flight MH370 was discovered

A local police officer on the island of La Reunion holds up a piece of plastic believed to be part of a sewing machine

A local police officer on the island of La Reunion holds up a piece of plastic believed to be part of a sewing machine

Debris found by volunteers on Reunion Island, who have been working for several days around the same area in which a wing part believed to be of MH370 was washed ashore

Debris found by volunteers on Reunion Island, who have been working for several days around the same area in which a wing part believed to be of MH370 was washed ashore

'It might even be November or December before it is really back in action because of the conditions out there,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'That's [when we] we are able to do broad area searches that identifies a number of contacts.'

Only when better conditions prevail, will the Fugro crew again be able to launch their Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).

'We just can't [launch] in these seas,' he said.

'There are some contacts out there that still need to be identified, it [AUV] can get in and identify them. There are certainly some out there.'

Before its contract with the Malaysian government ended, Go Phoenix had 'a number of contacts which look like 40 foot containers'.

'We'll get the AUV to cover those but they are most likely category two.'

Mr Duffield also hit back at critics claiming they have been looking in the wrong places for the doomed aircraft for the past year.

'I think it is plain unfair, I'm not quite sure what they are talking about,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 

Fugro Survey boss Steve Duffield says these are the sorts of conditions which have hampered teams in the southern Indian Ocean

Fugro Survey boss Steve Duffield says these are the sorts of conditions which have hampered teams in the southern Indian Ocean

Fugro Discovery encounters rough conditions during the search for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean

Fugro Discovery encounters rough conditions during the search for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean

Mohd Fairuz on-board Fugro Discovery monitors the upcoming seabed terrain while controling the deep tow fish winch during the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370

Mohd Fairuz on-board Fugro Discovery monitors the upcoming seabed terrain while controling the deep tow fish winch during the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370

GO Phoenix pictured during rough conditions before it was withdrawn from the search for MH370 in June

GO Phoenix pictured during rough conditions before it was withdrawn from the search for MH370 in June

MH370 disappeared in March 2014 sparking a wide-scale air and sea search involving several countries including Australia, Malaysia and France

MH370 disappeared in March 2014 sparking a wide-scale air and sea search involving several countries including Australia, Malaysia and France

'We search where we are told to search, that’s where it is and the analysis I have seen several times is quite strong.

'The ATSB sets up the strategy, then there's CSIRO analysis of the drift models. 

'It's not small, 120,000 square kilometre expansion. It has been a fattening of the search area and it's progressing as fast as possible, particularly with Go Phoenix stood down by the Malaysians. 

'Having two vessels fairly much constantly searching is pretty big, the most recent one in comparison would be AF-447.' 

He was referring to Air France Flight 447 that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009, on a flight to Paris from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared in March last year en-route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board. 

The Maylasian Prime Minister has gone on record stating tests undertaken by an international team of experts 'conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion island is indeed from MH370.' 

 


 

 


 


 

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