Search for MH370 aircraft continues in S Indian Ocean

The search and recovery operation for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are underway on Thursday, with warning of bad weather later in the day. [Special coverage]

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said Thursday's search activities involve a total of 11 aircraft and five ships and the search is split into two areas covering a total of 78,000 square km in southern Indian Ocean.

Two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orions, a Chinese Air Force Ilyushin IL-76, a Japanese Gulfstream jet, a US Navy P- 8 Poseidon and a Japanese P-3 Orion will fly sorties throughout the day.

The first aircraft to leave Perth for the search area was the Chinese Ilyushin IL-76 at around 8 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (AEDT).

The two RAAF AP-3C Orions are scheduled to depart before midday, said AMSA, and five civil aircraft are scheduled to depart between 9.30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

A Japan Coast Guard ultra-long range jet will depart at around 2 p.m.

A U.S. Navy P8 Poseidon is scheduled to depart at around 4 p.m. and a Japanese P3 Orion is scheduled to depart at around 5 p.m.

The Australian HMAS Success navy vessel is joined by four Chinese ships -- Xue Long, Kunlunshan, Haikou and Qiandaohu in the search area about 2,500 km southwest of Perth.

The Malaysian government announced Wednesday that analysts studying satellite photos from France had found 122 unidentified objects in the search area.