Deep-Sea Search for Missing MH370 to Resume After 11 Years
The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which mysteriously disappeared over 11 years ago, is set to recommence this month. Malaysia’s transport ministry announced that efforts will focus on an area in the Indian Ocean believed to hold the key to unraveling one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries.
Why It Matters
This renewed search underscores Malaysia’s commitment to providing answers for the families of the 239 individuals onboard, comprised of 227 passengers and 12 crew members. The disappearance of MH370 has captivated and frustrated the world for over a decade, making its resolution a sensitive and significant matter for the airline industry and global aviation safety.
Key Developments
- Search will reignite on December 30, 2023, led by U.S.-based firm Ocean Infinity.
- A 55-day search will target a new area of 15,000 square kilometers (5,800 square miles) in the Indian Ocean.
- Contract with Ocean Infinity is based on a “no-find, no-fee” arrangement, with a potential payment of $70 million if wreckage is located.
- Previous multinational search efforts, spearheaded by Australia, failed to recover any remains of the aircraft.
- Bad weather previously halted operations in April.
- Some debris believed to be from MH370 was discovered along coastlines in East Africa and the Indian Ocean, including Mozambique and Reunion Island.
Full Report
On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished from radar shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport en route to Beijing. Initial satellite data indicated the aircraft deviated from its designated flight path, leading it southward into the remote Indian Ocean, where it is presumed to have crashed.
In a recent statement, the Malaysian transport ministry emphasized the government’s dedication to providing closure for the families affected by this tragedy. This search will be conducted by Ocean Infinity, utilizing advanced marine robotics technology to scour the oceans more effectively than before.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, acknowledged Malaysia’s efforts in continuing the search, reflecting international collaboration in this endeavor. The new search will revisit areas previously thought to have been overlooked, as Ocean Infinity aims to apply lessons learned from its previous search relative to the remnants found along various coastlines, which may provide critical clues.
Context & Previous Events
Following the disappearance, numerous search operations were launched by a range of countries, led primarily by Australia, yielding no physical evidence of the main wreckage. Ocean Infinity previously conducted an independent search in 2018 but did not succeed in locating the aircraft. The latest search marks a renewed hope for families still seeking answers more than a decade after MH370’s mysterious disappearance.
