Australian scientist agree wreckage of MH370 could be located north of actual search zone

Australian scientists have cited new research to suggest that the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 could be located to the north of the actual search zone. The report prepared for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), said that the 25,000sq km area lies north of the earlier search zone in southern Indian Ocean.

The new evidence corroborates a drift analysis report from November 2016, wherein an independent analysis of the satellite data concluded that the missing aircraft would not be found in the area where the search was carried out.

David Griffin of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Csiro) said, "Testing an actual flaperon [wing part] has added an extra level of assurance to the findings from our earlier drift modelling work."

The plane flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing went off the radar on 8 March 2014 with 239 passengers and crew on board. Authorities in China, Malaysia and Australia called off the search for the Boeing 777 in January 2017.

However, Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester denied that the report provided new evidence about the exact location of the doomed aircraft.

"The CSIRO report has been provided to Malaysia for consideration in its ongoing investigation into the disappearance of MH370," Chester said.

"Malaysia is the lead investigator and any future requests in relation to searching for MH370 would be considered by Australia, at that time."

A spokesperson for the ATSB said, "Malaysia as the lead investigator will work closely with the Australian and Chinese governments in deciding any future search efforts."

According to ABC Australia, there are no plans to extend the search despite the new findings.