Authorities have agreed to continue the underwater search for Flight MH370 for another year and double the size of the hunt if the plane is not found within weeks in the current zone in the Indian Ocean.
Pledging to bring "peace to the families", ministers from Malaysia, Australia and China held a meeting in Kuala Lumpur and agreed to continue the operation in a new zone covering another 23,000 square miles.
Four ships are currently scouring an area of the same size and have searched more than 60 per cent. They are due to finish the zone in May. The search has already cost more than £ 60 million, paid largely by Malaysia and Australia.
"Ministers recognise the additional search area may take up to a year to complete given the adverse weather conditions in the forthcoming winter months," the search authority said in a statement.
The authority did not indicate what it may do if the plane was not discovered.
