Planned air search suspended due to poor weather: JACC

Planned air search activities had been suspended for Tuesday due to poor weather conditions in the search area as a result of Tropical Cyclone Jack, the Joint Agency Coordination Center (JACC) confirmed.

According to the JACC, it had been determined that the current weather conditions were resulting in heavy seas and poor visibility, and would make any air search activities ineffective and potentially hazardous.

"The weather forecast for Today (Tuesday) is for scattered showers to continue with south easterly winds, sea swells up to three meters and visibility of four kilometres," the JACC said on Tuesday morning.

However, the JACC confirmed that four military aircraft, prior to the decision to suspend air search activities Tuesday due to poor weather conditions, had departed RAAF Base Pearce for the visual search zone. And one RAAF E7 Wedgetail aircraft to support air-space deconfliction had also departed RAAF Base Learmonth.

"These aircraft will continue with their missions", the JACC confirmed in its latest update Tuesday afternoon.

"However, individual aircraft captains will assess the conditions once on station and use their discretion as to whether they continue their planned search activities or return to base," the JACC added.

In addition, the JACC confirmed that the 10 ships involved in Tuesday's search would continue with their planned activities.