A new search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has begun in the Indian Ocean, more than a decade after the aircraft vanished, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed Tuesday. The latest effort, led by British marine exploration company Ocean Infinity, marks what could be the final attempt to locate the wreckage of the Boeing 777, which disappeared from radar on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew onboard.
Ocean Infinity's deep-sea survey vessel Armada 7806 arrived in the designated search zone over the weekend, maritime tracking data showed. The ship, equipped with advanced autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), is scanning a 15,000-square-kilometer area of the southern Indian Ocean that researchers have identified as a likely crash site based on satellite signals, radio disturbances, and other data.
Loke emphasized that the Malaysian government is still finalizing contract details with Ocean Infinity but welcomed the firm's proactive approach. "We're very relieved and pleased that the search is resuming once again after such a long hiatus," said Grace Nathan, a Malaysian citizen who lost her mother on the flight.
Malaysia initially approved a new search in December, agreeing to a "no find, no fee" contract similar to the arrangement used in Ocean Infinity's 2018 mission. Under this agreement, the company would receive $70 million only if it locates the aircraft. The current search is expected to last up to six weeks, with Armada 7806 making periodic stops in Fremantle, Australia, for resupply.
The search area is based on revised analysis of satellite data, particularly the so-called "seventh arc," where the aircraft is believed to have exhausted its fuel and crashed. Scientists have also used data from Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) technology-low-power radio pulses that interact with aircraft-to further refine the search zone. Aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey, who analyzed over 130 WSPR signal disturbances over the Indian Ocean from the night MH370 disappeared, suggested that these signals may provide a "trail of crumbs" leading to the wreckage.
Unlike previous missions, Ocean Infinity's latest search employs next-generation AUVs that can operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters and remain submerged for four days-twice the duration of the vehicles used in 2018. The company plans to focus on three to four "hotspots" where researchers believe the fuselage or key wreckage components may be located.
The mystery surrounding MH370 has fueled widespread speculation, ranging from pilot suicide to mechanical failure and even intentional sabotage. A final report issued in 2018 acknowledged that the plane's flight path had been manually altered but stopped short of assigning blame.
Despite years of searching, only a few pieces of debris linked to MH370 have been recovered, primarily washed ashore on islands in the Indian Ocean, including Réunion and Madagascar. The most significant find was a wing flaperon discovered in 2015, confirming that the aircraft had crashed.
Ocean Infinity's 2018 search covered 46,300 square miles but failed to locate the wreckage, leading to the mission's suspension. The new operation represents a last-ditch effort to solve one of aviation's greatest mysteries, with Loke reaffirming Malaysia's commitment to transparency. "The proposal for a search operation by Ocean Infinity is a solid one and deserves to be considered," he said.
