An Australian navy ship was today close to retrieving several objects spotted in remote southern Indian Ocean by the international team hunting for the Malaysian jetliner, raising hopes of a breakthrough in the frustrating search for the plane that went missing 17 days ago.

Australian and Chinese planes reported seeing several objects floating about 2,500 km south-west of Perth. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said two objects -- the first grey or green and circular and the second orange and rectangular -- located by an Australian P3 Orion aircraft in the area.

A Chinese Ilyushin-76 plane reported spotting "white and square" objects in the same location.