Update: News on Malaysian flight

CNN reports that objects believed to be related to the missing Malaysian Aircraft may have been found in the southern part of Indian Ocean. Anderson Cooper's programme '360' was just interrupted for the breaking news.

The first object possibly associated with flight MH370. Photo credit: Australian government

Search planes are on their way to assess at least two objects in the southern Indian Ocean that could be connected to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Australian authorities have announced.

Four aircraft have been sent to the area after a “possible indication of debris” was detected in satellite imagery, said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa), which is co-ordinating the search in the southern Indian Ocean.

Amsa’s emergency response general manager, John Young, said the largest possible object had been assessed as measuring 24 metres. The satellite sightings were made 2,500km (1,500 miles) south-west of Perth.

The second of two objects possibly associated with flight MH370. Photo credit: Australian government

The Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, told parliament on Thursday that the “new and credible information” had emerged from expert analysis of satellite imagery. His announcement came 12 days after Beijing-bound MH370 went missing on 8 March shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, with 239 people on board.

Abbott said an Australian air force Orion had been diverted to look for the objects, with three more aircraft following for a more intensive follow-up search. He added that he had informed the Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, of the developments.

Abbott cautioned against drawing premature conclusions. “We must keep in mind the task of locating these objects will be extremely difficult and it may turn out that they are not related to the search for flight MH370.

Malaysian authorities have said the missing plane’s 12 crew members have been under investigation since the aircraft disappeared and that the homes of the pilot and co-pilot have been visited twice by police. The pilot’s flight simulator was taken from his house on Sunday, the Malaysian transport ministry said.

Obama, the US president, said earlier that every available resource was being used in the search, including the FBI, the National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies dealing with aviation. Three Americans were on board the flight.

Obama added: “It’s a big piece of planet that we’re searching and sometimes these things take time, but we hope and pray that we can get to the bottom of what happened.”

Let us hope flight MH370 is found for the sake of their families at least.