The Malaysian government recently agreed in principle to accept a second proposal from US company Ocean Infinity to restart the search for MH370, which disappeared more than a decade ago in the Indian Ocean. Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that Cabinet had approved the continuation of the search at sea at a new 15,000 square kilometre location, based on recent information and analysis from experts and researchers.
MH370, a Boeing 777, disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur on 8 March 2014, with 239 people on board, mostly Chinese nationals, bound for Beijing. Satellite data showed that the plane had veered off course and headed south into the Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have eventually disappeared.
Despite the costly international search, no clues have been found, although debris has been found on the East African coast and islands in the Indian Ocean. A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also turned up nothing.
Minister Loke stressed that the Malaysian government will only pay Ocean Infinity if the plane wreckage is eventually found, under the principle of “no find, no pay”. Negotiations to finalise the terms of the deal with Ocean Infinity are expected to be concluded in early 2025.
Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Punkett said this year that the company has improved its technology since 2018. They are working with a number of experts to analyse the data and narrow the search area to the most likely site.
The decision to restart the search for MH370 has raised hopes of solving one of the greatest mysteries in modern aviation. It remains to be hoped that this new research will finally shed light on the circumstances of the disappearance of this plane and provide answers to the families of those on board.