Search for missing MH370 suspended due to bad weather

A Korean Navy P3-C Orion aircraft is watched by an official as it arrives at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce, located north of Perth, to participate in the search for missing MalayShow more

PERTH, AUSTRALIA // Australian officials said search operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane have been suspended for the day due to bad weather.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority says all planes that headed for the search area in the southern Indian Ocean earlier Thursday are now returning to Perth and ships are leaving too.

Heavy rains, strong winds, low clouds and reduced visibility are expected in the search zone, which is about 2,500 kilometres south-west of Perth.

Eleven planes and five ships had planned to scour the area on Thursday for Flight 370, which vanished early March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard.

Malaysia said an analysis of the final known satellite signals from the plane shows it went down in the sea.

* Associated Press