Jet search on hold after trouble with mini-sub

[SYDNEY] The hunt for the missing Malaysian passenger jet in the Indian Ocean was put on hold yesterday after technical issues with a US Navy mini-submarine that require spare parts to be sent from Britain.

Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Agency (JACC), which is leading the search, revealed on Wednesday that the Bluefin-21 submersible lasted only two hours in the water this week before it had to be raised.

The JACC blamed "communications problems" for the aborted mission and after a more thorough examination, announced that spare parts will be needed before the sophisticated mini-sub can be used again.