Malaysia to Restart MH370 Wreckage Search a Decade After Its Disappearance

Over a decade after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the Malaysian government has approved a new search proposal from marine exploration company Ocean Infinity to find the wreckage of the Boeing 777 that vanished during its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, leaving 239 passengers and crew presumed dead. This operation comes with a “no-find, no-fee” arrangement, echoing past search efforts but promising advancements in technology and data analysis to guide the exploration.

A Decade of Unanswered Questions

Flight MH370 disappeared under mysterious circumstances, with evidence suggesting it crashed in the Southern Indian Ocean. Despite multiple search efforts, only scattered debris from the aircraft has been found in regions such as East Africa and the Indian Ocean. The loss of all onboard remains one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.

Ocean Infinity last conducted a search in 2018, scouring a 112,000-square-kilometer area but failed to locate the wreckage. Now, with the Malaysian government’s approval, a new mission will target a 15,000-square-kilometer area. The company’s payment of $70 million hinges on finding the wreckage, ensuring a significant financial incentive for success. Malaysia’s Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, stated,

“The Cabinet has agreed in principle to accept Ocean Infinity’s proposal to resume the search for MH370’s wreckage in a new search area… based on the no-find-no-fee principle. This means the government will not have to pay unless the wreckage is found.”

Advancements in Technology and Renewed Hope

Ocean Infinity’s CEO, Oliver Plunkett, has expressed confidence in the company’s improved capabilities. Since its last search for MH370 wreckage, the firm has enhanced its technological tools and consulted with experts to refine potential crash site locations. The data analysis and expertise brought into this effort have reignited hope of uncovering MH370’s mysteries.

Negotiations for the agreement are still ongoing, with a formal deal expected by early 2025. Discussions involve defining “wreckage,” distinguishing between locating fragments and discovering the jet’s main body. The mission is set to last 18 months, with optimal search conditions occurring between January and April.

Bringing Closure to Grieving Families

The announcement of a renewed search has been welcomed by the relatives of MH370’s passengers, who have endured years of uncertainty. Minister Loke emphasized the mission’s potential to provide closure to grieving families, particularly for the many Chinese nationals onboard. In late 2023, a Chinese court initiated compensation proceedings for these families, underscoring the ongoing impact of the tragedy.

Theories regarding MH370’s disappearance range from deliberate actions by Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, allegedly motivated by personal difficulties, to a possible cabin depressurization event. Investigators believe the plane’s transponder was manually disabled, and its course deliberately altered. However, the exact sequence of events remains speculative without access to the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which could offer definitive answers.

Previous search efforts, such as the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) $150 million search covering over 120,000 square kilometers between 2014 and 2017, and Ocean Infinity’s 2018 attempt, have been unsuccessful. However, the renewed operation promises to leverage the latest advancements in marine exploration technology and data analytics.

• Featured image by Masakatsu Ukon

Youssef Yahya

Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’

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