Go Phoenix to Pull Out from MH370 Search

The search for missing Malaysian Airline MH370 has now covered more than 48,000 square kilometers of the seafloor.

The search area has been expanded beyond the original 60,000 square kilometre search area to cover up to 120,000 square kilometres and has been modified to enable continuous search operations during winter.

According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) operational update, the vessel GO Phoenix which departed from Fremantle on May 21, and arrived back in the search area on May 26. will cease search operations and is expected to transit to Singapore, upon completion of the current swing.

No reason was given for withdrawing the vessel from the search.

Other two vessels Fugro Discovery and Fugro Equator arrived back in the search area from Fremantle and are undertaking search operations.

Earlier this month, Fugro Supporter has withdrawn from search operations as the deteriorating weather has brought sea conditions which are beyond the safe launch and recovery limitations of the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Fugro Supporter arrived at the port of Fremantle where the AUV was offloaded and stored and the survey team demobilised.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board.