Planned air search suspended again due to poor weather: JACC

Planned air search activities have been suspended again due to poor weather conditions in the search area, the Joint Agency Coordination Center (JACC) announced in its latest update on Wednesday. [Special coverage]

However, three aircraft had already departed for Wednesday's search area before the suspension took effect. "They have been recalled," the JACC said.

Current weather conditions are resulting in heavy seas and poor visibility and are making air search ineffective and potentially hazardous, it added.

"Prevailing weather conditions may affect today's air search," the JACC said earlier Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, Planned air search activities have been suspended due to poor weather conditions in the search area as a result of Tropical Cyclone Jack.

Wednesday's weather forecast indicated isolated showers increasing to heavy rain, widespread low cloud, with southeasterly winds, sea swells up to 2.5 meters and visibility of one km.