Australia should back new search for MH370, top official who led first effort says

The Australian government should get behind a new search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the man who headed up the initial search says, now that new equipment and data is available.

Foley hopes pressure from families and the upcoming anniversary will push things in the right direction.

The government said at the time the search was not terminated.

MH370 went missing 40 minutes into a six-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Most passengers on board were Chinese, but there were more than a dozen nationalities represented including dozens of Malaysians and six Australians. Australia had put $90m towards the cost, China $20m and Malaysia the balance.

Plunkett said there was new information about where the plane may have ended up, and that the company had commissioned a fleet of new, 78-metre search vessels.

That support included dealing with regulations for an unmanned ship.

The federal government declined to comment on whether or not it would support a new search.

New evidence has also emerged, including debris that has washed ashore.

Foley said it was time for a new search.