MH370 The search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 will be suspended if the plane is not found in the current search area, Malaysia, China and Australia said in a joint statement today.

The aircraft, with 239 aboard, disappeared in March 2014 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Almost US$135 million has been spent since on an underwater search spanning 120,000 sq km in the southern Indian Ocean.

"In the absence of new credible evidence, Malaysia, Australia and China have collectively agreed to suspend the search upon completion of the 120,000km search," Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

"I must emphasise that this does not mean we are giving up on the search for MH370," he added, in a statement read out to the media.

- Reuters