The Malaysian government has announced plans to resume the search for the missing MH370 flight. Ocean Infinity will lead the renewed efforts with new evidence.
The Malaysian government has reached a preliminary agreement to restart efforts to locate the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. The $70 million (£56 million) contract with U.S.-based marine exploration firm Ocean Infinity stipulates payment only upon the successful discovery of the wreckage.
A 10-Year Mystery: MH370
MH370 vanished on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Beijing (PEK) with 239 passengers and crew onboard. The Boeing 777 aircraft lost contact with air traffic control about an hour after takeoff and deviated from its intended route.
Investigators believe the plane crashed into the southern Indian Ocean, but definitive evidence has never been found. The multinational search efforts, which ended in 2017, cost approximately $150 million (£120 million) and yielded no results.
New Search Efforts
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that Ocean Infinity’s proposal had been tentatively approved, with details expected to be finalized in early 2024. The new search will cover a 15,000-square-kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean.
In 2018, Ocean Infinity conducted a similar search under the same payment terms but found no evidence after three months of exploration. The upcoming search will be based on what Malaysia has described as “credible new evidence.”
Support from Loved Ones
Families of MH370 victims have expressed relief at the resumption of the search. Jacquita Gonzales, the wife of missing flight attendant Patrick Gomes, called the news “the best Christmas gift ever.” Intan Maizura Othaman, whose husband Mohd Hazrin Mohamed Hasnan was on board, shared the emotional toll of nearly 11 years of uncertainty. Jiang Hui, whose mother was on the flight, urged the government to adopt a more transparent approach and include more parties in the investigation.
Ocean Infinity’s Perspective
Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Plunkett described the decision as “fantastic news” and pledged to provide updates before operations commence.
MH370 and Conspiracy Theories
Speculation surrounding the disappearance of MH370 includes theories of intentional sabotage or being shot down by a foreign military force. A 2018 investigation suggested the plane’s flight path had been deliberately altered, but no responsible party was identified. Investigators stress that finding the wreckage remains essential to reaching conclusive answers.
© AeroHaber.com
Aviation News and Defense Industry news published on our website cannot be used without proper attribution.
