In a significant move, the Malaysian cabinet has sanctioned a renewed search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished over a decade ago. This operation will focus on a 15,000 square kilometer region in the southern Indian Ocean and will be conducted under a "no find, no fee" agreement with Ocean Infinity, a private exploration firm. If successful, the company will be rewarded with $70 million (£56 million) for locating the aircraft, as shared by transport minister Loke Siew Fook.
Malaysia Revives Search for Infamous MH370 Disappearance
Malaysia Revives Search for Infamous MH370 Disappearance
The Malaysian government initiates a new search for the missing MH370 flight in the Indian Ocean, over nine years after its mysterious disappearance.
Flight MH370 disappeared in March 2014 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 individuals onboard. The incident remains one of aviation's biggest enigmas and continues to affect the families of those on board. Despite numerous searches and investigations over the years, no definitive wreckage has been located, with previous endeavors, including a multinational search costing $150 million (£120 million), concluding in 2017.
The governments of Malaysia, Australia, and China agreed to resume search efforts only if credible new evidence of the aircraft's whereabouts surfaced. A prior search by Ocean Infinity in 2018, under similar conditions, ended after three months without success.
In December 2023, the Malaysian government signified its intent to restart the search, though the final negotiations were only finalized by March. The recent cabinet approval allows the long-awaited operation to commence. Loke emphasized the government’s commitment to uncovering answers for the families affected by the tragedy, stating, "We are dedicated to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of the MH370 passengers."
The flight departed Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014, but lost communication with air traffic control less than an hour later. It deviated sharply from its designated flight path, leading investigators to conclude that the aircraft likely crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, though the exact cause of the crash remains unknown. Several pieces of debris identified as belonging to the aircraft have washed ashore in the following years, fueling various conspiracy theories about its fate, including speculation of deliberate sabotage by the pilot or potential military intervention.
An investigation published in 2018 suggested that the plane's controls were intentionally manipulated to veer off course, but ultimately did not resolve the mystery, asserting that "the answer can only be conclusive if the wreckage is found." Following the announcement for the new search, families of the missing passengers have expressed mixed feelings—some hopeful for resolution, while others experience a bittersweet sense of longing for answers.
The governments of Malaysia, Australia, and China agreed to resume search efforts only if credible new evidence of the aircraft's whereabouts surfaced. A prior search by Ocean Infinity in 2018, under similar conditions, ended after three months without success.
In December 2023, the Malaysian government signified its intent to restart the search, though the final negotiations were only finalized by March. The recent cabinet approval allows the long-awaited operation to commence. Loke emphasized the government’s commitment to uncovering answers for the families affected by the tragedy, stating, "We are dedicated to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of the MH370 passengers."
The flight departed Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014, but lost communication with air traffic control less than an hour later. It deviated sharply from its designated flight path, leading investigators to conclude that the aircraft likely crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, though the exact cause of the crash remains unknown. Several pieces of debris identified as belonging to the aircraft have washed ashore in the following years, fueling various conspiracy theories about its fate, including speculation of deliberate sabotage by the pilot or potential military intervention.
An investigation published in 2018 suggested that the plane's controls were intentionally manipulated to veer off course, but ultimately did not resolve the mystery, asserting that "the answer can only be conclusive if the wreckage is found." Following the announcement for the new search, families of the missing passengers have expressed mixed feelings—some hopeful for resolution, while others experience a bittersweet sense of longing for answers.
