MH370 crash: Smaller area needed before underwater search begins, says BEA

PETALING JAYA: The vast area being searched for the missing MH370 makes an undersea search unfeasible, and can only be done if the search area is smaller.

In a statement on its website, the French BEA (Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses) accident investigation service said that the current surface sea search area was too large.

"Such a vast area does not, at present, make it feasible to conduct undersea searches," it said.

"An undersea phase to localise the aeroplane from flight MH370 could only be launched if the operations under way today enable a more limited search area to be defined than the current search areas."

It also said the three BEA officials sent here to help authorities with the search had already left the country.