Ocean Shield

A US-manufactured black box detector equipped to an Australian ship, Ocean Shield, has picked up two possible signals from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.

The black box received the first signals for more than two hours off Australia’s north-west coast before the ship lost contact, followed by detection for 13 minutes after turning around.

Confirming that the signals were consistent with the missing jet, Australian agency head air chief marshal Angus Houston said: "Today, I can report some very encouraging information which has unfolded over the last 24 hours.

"Two separate signal detections have occurred within the northern part of the defined search area."

"On this occasion, two distinct pinger returns were audible. Significantly, this would be consistent with transmissions from both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder."

"Two distinct pinger returns were audible. Significantly, this would be consistent with transmissions from both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder."

Houston also noted that it could take several days to confirm whether the signals were emitted from the missing plane, as the position of the signals would need to be fixed first.

Meanwhile, Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01, located 300nm away from Ocean Shield, also received a pulse signal with the same frequency of a black box.

An unmanned underwater vehicle, Bluefin 21, will likely be used to locate the debris on the sea floor. The search range of the vehicle range is 4,500km deep.

"We are right on the edge of capability and we might be limited on capability if the aircraft ended up in deeper water," Houston added.

The missing jet disappeared off radars on 8 March with 239 people onboard.

Image: Chart showing locations of signals picked up by vessels Haixun 01 and Ocean Shield. Photo: courtesy of Commonwealth of Australia.