Malaysia says China has images of floating objects

In this Feb. 9, 2005 file photo, a United States Navy P-3C Orion aircraft sits on the tarmac during the Aero India 2005, at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka, near Bangalore, India. The similar type of the P-3 Orion, favored by the Australian and New Zealand defense forces, is used in the search for the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 which went missing on March 8, 2014, off the west coast of Australia. AP

KUALA LUMPUR—China has new satellite images of one or more floating objects that could be related to missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Saturday.

“The news that I just received is that the Chinese ambassador received satellite image of floating objects in the southern corridor and they will be sending ships to verify,” Hishammuddin told a news briefing in Kuala Lumpur.

It was not immediately clear how many possible objects had been spotted, but the minister said one was estimated at 22 metres by 30 metres (72 by 98 feet).

“The Beijing government will announce this in a couple of hours,” he added.

The news came as Hishammuddin was in the middle of his daily press briefing on the search for MH370.

“This is coming to me as quick as you are seeing on TV right now,” the minister said, adding that he was wrapping up the briefing early in order “to follow this lead”.