Malaysia is set to revive the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, nearly 10 years after the aircraft disappeared in one of the aviation industry's greatest mysteries. The Malaysian government announced on Friday its agreement in principle to partner with U.S.-based marine exploration company Ocean Infinity in a "no find, no fee" arrangement. The search is expected to cover a new 15,000-square-kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean early next year.
Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke described the move as a critical step toward bringing closure to the families of the 239 passengers and crew on board. "The proposed new search area, identified by Ocean Infinity, is based on the latest information and data analyses conducted by experts and researchers," Loke said. "This decision reflects the government's commitment to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of MH370 passengers."
Under the agreement, Ocean Infinity will receive $70 million if it successfully locates the wreckage. The company previously conducted an unsuccessful three-month search in 2018 under similar terms. However, Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Plunkett expressed optimism about the renewed effort, stating,the the company had improved its technology since enhanced its technology since the last search and are working with experts to analyze data and narrow down the most likely location of the wreckage.
Flight MH370 vanished on March 8, 2014, less than an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing. Radar data showed the plane deviating significantly from its planned course, ultimately heading over the southern Indian Ocean. Despite extensive multinational search efforts that cost $150 million, no conclusive evidence about the plane's fate has been found, aside from a few debris pieces washing ashore on African coasts and Indian Ocean islands.
Relatives of those on board expressed mixed emotions about the renewed search. Jacquita Gonzales, whose husband Patrick Gomes was a flight supervisor on MH370, called the announcement "the best Christmas present ever." Intan Maizura Othaman, whose husband Mohd Hazrin Mohamed Hasnan was a cabin crew member, shared a bittersweet sentiment, as reported by the New Straits Times, saying, "This announcement stirs mixed emotions-hope, gratitude, and sorrow. After nearly 11 years, the uncertainty and pain of not having answers have been incredibly difficult for us."
The 2018 investigation into MH370's disappearance concluded that the aircraft's controls were likely deliberately manipulated to veer off course. However, it drew no definitive conclusions about who might have been responsible. While some experts speculate that the pilot may have intentionally downed the plane in a murder-suicide, others believe hypoxia might have rendered the crew unresponsive.
The upcoming search is buoyed by new data and improved technology, offering fresh hope for finding the wreckage. The planned search area reflects updated analyses conducted by a team of aviation experts. "We look forward to sharing further updates in the new year once we've finalized the details and the team gets ready to go," Plunkett added.
The mystery surrounding MH370 has spurred numerous conspiracy theories, ranging from pilot sabotage to claims of a military shootdown. Investigators have dismissed many of these theories but emphasize that finding the wreckage is essential to conclusively determining what happened.
