Search for MH370 to go on: Aust govt

Australian authorities say the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet will go on as Malaysia declares its disappearance "an accident".

A prayer service at the Metro Park Hotel in Beijing

Chinese relatives of passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 take part in a prayer service at the Metro Park Hotel in Beijing on April 8, 2014. (TOPSHOTS/AFP PHOTO/WANG ZHAO)

The Australian government says it remains committed to finding Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The Joint Agency Coordination Centre has reassured relatives of passengers on the missing jet the search remains a priority with the Malaysian government formally declaring the mystery an "accident" and its passengers and crew presumed dead.

"We understand that the families of those on board MH370 are experiencing enormous grief, heightened by not knowing the circumstances under which the aircraft disappeared," a statement from the JACC said on Friday.

"Providing support to those families, particularly at this difficult time, will continue to be a priority."

MH370 vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in what remains one of history's great aviation conundrums.

Malaysian authorities say satellite data indicates the plane detoured to the remote southern Indian Ocean, which they suspect was due to "deliberate" action on-board.

But no firm evidence has yet turned up, despite an ongoing Australian-led search of the supposed crash region - the most expensive search and rescue operation in history.

But the Australians remain positive, with the head of the search recently saying he believes it's very likely the plane will be found.

"Our satellite calculations gave us an area we determined was high priority," Australian Transport Safety Board chief commissioner Martin Dolan said.

The ATSB has even asked companies to express interest in aiding the recovery of any aircraft wreckage.


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Source: AAP


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