More than 10 years have passed since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished into thin air, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and devastated families.
But now, Malaysia has agreed to resume the search for the wreckage, bringing hope to the loved ones of the 239 people on board.
The Tragic Disappearance
On March 8, 2014, the Boeing 777 took off from Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing, with 227 passengers and 12 crew members from around the world, including six Australian citizens and one New Zealand resident. But it never reached its destination. The plane disappeared in international waters, sparking one of the greatest aviation mysteries of all time.
Australia Supports the New Search
A spokesperson from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that Malaysia had accepted an offer to resume the search. “Malaysia carries overall responsibility for the search and investigation of MH370 because it is the state of registration for the aircraft that went missing in international waters,” the spokesperson said.
A New Search Operation
Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke announced that the government had agreed to a new search operation by Ocean Infinity, a maritime exploration firm based in the UK and US. The company had conducted an unsuccessful search in 2018, but this time, they’ll be scouring a new 15,000 square kilometer area of the southern Indian Ocean.
What’s Different This Time?
According to Loke, the new search area was proposed by Ocean Infinity based on the latest information and data analysis conducted by experts and researchers. The proposal is a solid one, and the government is working to finalize the agreement as quickly as possible.
The Search Will Resume Soon
The contract between Malaysia and Ocean Infinity is expected to be finalized by early 2025, and the search will resume as soon as the contract is signed. The ideal time for the search in the designated waters is between January and April.
No Find, No Fee
The new search will be on the same “no find, no fee” principle as Ocean Infinity’s previous search. If the plane is found, Malaysia will pay the company US$70 million ($111.7 million).
Still Few Clues
Despite the original Australia-led search covering 120,000 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean, hardly any trace of the plane was found. A final report into the tragedy released in 2018 pointed to failings by air traffic control and said the course of the plane was changed manually.
No Guarantees
When asked if he was confident the plane would be found during the new search, Loke said, “At this point, no one can provide guarantees. It has been over 10 years, and it would be unfair to expect a concrete commitment.”
Families Hold On to Hope
For the families of the passengers, the new search brings a glimmer of hope. Malaysian Rosila Abu Samah, 60, the stepmother of one of the passengers, said, “I truly hope there will be an end to the loss of MH370. May all questions be answered.”
Malaysian Shim Kok Chau, 49, whose wife was a flight attendant on the ill-fated flight, said he had come to accept her fate but hopes to know what happened to the plane, “why it happened and who did it.”