MH370 The missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is probably located north of the official search area in the Indian Ocean, the head of the Australian department leading the suspended hunt said today.

Last week, the governments of Australia, Malaysia and China announced the suspension of the underwater search after sweeping 120,000 square kilometres of the ocean bed because there was "no credible new information."

The vessel involved in the search, Fugro Equator, returned to port in Western Australia's capital Perth on today in a ceremony attended by ministers from the three countries.

In December, experts had recommended for the search to continue, saying the aircraft could be within a 25,000 square kilometre area to the north of the official search zone.

"It's highly likely the area now defined by the experts contains the aircraft but that's not absolutely for certain," Greg Hood, the chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which was leading the search, said.

Hood told reporters his department would have liked to continue the search and bring closure to the families of those on board.

"Having met a number of family members personally, they continue to have protracted and prolonged grief. I'm profoundly sorry for these people," Hood said.

MH370 went missing on March 8, 2014, during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with a total of 239 people on board.

Families and relatives of the passengers from the missing plane have criticised authorities for announcing the suspension of the search that cost the three countries more than US$150 million (RM666.15 million).

- Reuters