Search for Malaysian plane suspended

According to a joint statement by Australian, Malaysian and Chinese governments, the hunt for MH370 was called off after the search of a 120,000 sq km stretch of the Indian Ocean failed to find the missing plane, the Sydney Herald reported.

The next of kin were told that Australian authorities' underwater search had concluded without success. The search had been ongoing for more than two years, the Guardian reported.

"Despite every effort using the best science available, cutting edge technology as well as modelling and advice from highly skilled professionals, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft," the statement said.

The countries remained hopeful that new information on Boeing 777 would be received that disappeared in 2014 with 239 persons aboard.