Search for MH370 could take years: US naval officer

[PERTH] The search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 could take years, a US naval officer suggested yesterday, as search and rescue officials raced to locate the plane's black box recorder days before its batteries are set to die.

Ten ships and as many aircraft are searching a massive area in the Indian Ocean west of Perth, trying again to find some trace of the aircraft, which went missing more than three weeks ago and is presumed to have crashed in one of the most remote areas on the planet.

An Australian navy ship, the Ocean Shield, was fitted with a sophisticated US black box locator and an underwater drone yesterday, and is expected to leave port and join the search later in the day.