australian government agency established march coordinate search recovery operations flight disappeared march soon determined ended australia concurrent maritime search rescue regions agency australia headed perform search recovery investigation activities coordinates search effort serves primary point contact information search media families flight passengers background march flight disappeared route malaysia beijing china persons aboard search gulf thailand promptly initiated near aircraft voice contact air traffic control final contact secondary radar type radar air traffic control week disappearance malaysia announced military radar determined aircraft traveled west lost air traffic control announced communications satellite indicated aircraft continued fly hours located corridors northwest southwest malaysia northern corridor soon discounted focus search shifted west australia australia concurrent maritime search rescue regions extend march australia agreed lead search southern sumatra southern indian_ocean australian australia search rescue agency initially coordinated search australia region information officials malaysia history establishment australian prime minister announced creation march coordinate search australian waters operational following day assuming coordination search effort communications media foreign governments australian government agencies initially based perth western australia offices relocated canberra quickly relocated perth necessary search establishment search ocean surface aircraft continued april acoustic underwater search underwater attached aircraft flight ended april followed survey near area acoustic survey finished found debris aircraft initial search efforts active searching ceased plans preparations new phase called underwater search preceded survey plans new phase announced late june underwater search commenced october organisation division australian government australian government million years costs related time establishment retired air chief marshal sir head australia military appointed head prime minister crash flight july houston left agency appointed australia special envoy ukraine recover bodies australian victims assist relatives australian victims ensure proper investigation crash initiated accordance international standards january houston appointed knight military service continued commitment serve nation leadership roles particularly national responses flight flight disasters march chief coordinator executive director parent division division activities perform search recovery investigation activities provides single point contact affected parties including relatives missing passengers crew communication agencies organisations involved search provides information public latest developments search recovery operation search coordination responsible coordinating search efforts flight australian waters time agency creation search effort involved china japan malaysia new_zealand south_korea united_kingdom united_states agencies australian government australian search activities involved analysis flight satellite communications organisations initial search efforts agency worked primarily australian government agencies malaysia china plan carry survey underwater search works closely agency responsible defining search area carrying underwater search possible pieces flight located recovery effort australia works closely perform survey underwater search works malaysia china sent representatives work offices media primary source information australian government concerning search september issued weekly updates operational search updates highlighting week key developments search progress ship movements weather updates mention link newly released images interviews videos media statements reports concerning search released agencies involved search activities agency website maintains press releases press conferences meetings australia china malaysia photos videos maps reports published agencies related search relatives passengers serves single point contact relatives flight passengers agency weekly search updates provided english chinese majority flight passengers chinese addition search information serves liaison passengers families provide accommodation assistance interpretation services
Joint Agency Coordination Centre