Flight MH370: 122 new objects spotted - Malaysia minister

Jon Donnison reports from Fremantle Port in Perth, where much of the search operation is based

The objects were found in satellite images from a 400 sq km area around 2,557km (1588 miles) from Perth in Western Australia, Mr Hishammuddin said.

MH370 - Facts at a glance

8 March - Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight carrying 239 people disappears
Plane's transponder, which gives out location data, was switched off as it left Malaysian airspace
Satellite 'pings' indicate plane was still flying seven hours after satellite contact was lost
16 March - first satellite image of potential debris in southern Indian Ocean
24 March - Based on new calculations, Malaysian PM says "beyond reasonable doubt" that plane crashed in southern Indian Ocean with no survivors

He said that it was not possible to tell whether the potential objects were from the missing aircraft, but called them "another new lead that will help direct the search operation".

The images were supplied by French-based Airbus Defence and Space and were given to the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency on 25 March, Mr Hishammuddin said.

The images were passed on to the Australian Rescue and Co-ordination Centre in Perth on Tuesday, he added.

The latest images are the fourth known collection of satellite pictures showing possible debris in the southern Indian Ocean. No pieces have yet been recovered in the search area, which has now been split into an east and west section.