The Malaysian government is initiating a new search for the wreckage of flight MH370, focusing on a 15,000 sq km area in the Indian Ocean under a "no find, no fee" agreement.
Malaysia Announces New Search for MH370 in Indian Ocean
Malaysia Announces New Search for MH370 in Indian Ocean
Fresh hopes for closure as Malaysian cabinet green-lights exploration efforts for missing flight
The Malaysian cabinet has taken a significant step by approving a renewed search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished over a decade ago. This new venture will focus on a vast area of 15,000 square kilometers in the southern Indian Ocean, conducted under a "no find, no fee" agreement with the exploration firm Ocean Infinity. If successful in locating the wreckage, the company stands to receive $70 million (£56 million), as confirmed by Malaysia's transport minister, Loke Siew Fook.
Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying 239 individuals on board. The disappearance is regarded as one of the most puzzling aviation mysteries, leaving families of the passengers in a prolonged state of grief and uncertainty. Despite extensive multinational searches costing approximately $150 million (£120 million), no traces of the aircraft have been found since its disappearance, which has led to a myriad of conspiracy theories regarding its fate.
After earlier search attempts concluded without success in 2017, this agreement represents the Malaysian government's commitment to continue the search. The final approval was provided by the government after protracted negotiations, allowing operations to commence. In his statement, Loke emphasized the government's intent to provide closure to the families impacted by this tragedy.
Initial searches have pinpointed the probable area of the crash to be somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean, although reasons behind its disappearance remain ambiguous. Some debris, suspected to be from the aircraft, has washed ashore in subsequent years. An investigation in 2018 suggested that the plane's controls had likely been manipulated to lead it off its intended course but ultimately concluded that the mystery could only be resolved with the recovery of the wreckage.
The announcement of this renewed search initiative has elicited varied responses from families of the passengers. While some view it as a hopeful step toward closure, others reflect on the bittersweet nature of the effort. As Malaysia embarks on this voyage for answers, the legacy of flight MH370 continues to cast a long shadow over aviation history.
Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying 239 individuals on board. The disappearance is regarded as one of the most puzzling aviation mysteries, leaving families of the passengers in a prolonged state of grief and uncertainty. Despite extensive multinational searches costing approximately $150 million (£120 million), no traces of the aircraft have been found since its disappearance, which has led to a myriad of conspiracy theories regarding its fate.
After earlier search attempts concluded without success in 2017, this agreement represents the Malaysian government's commitment to continue the search. The final approval was provided by the government after protracted negotiations, allowing operations to commence. In his statement, Loke emphasized the government's intent to provide closure to the families impacted by this tragedy.
Initial searches have pinpointed the probable area of the crash to be somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean, although reasons behind its disappearance remain ambiguous. Some debris, suspected to be from the aircraft, has washed ashore in subsequent years. An investigation in 2018 suggested that the plane's controls had likely been manipulated to lead it off its intended course but ultimately concluded that the mystery could only be resolved with the recovery of the wreckage.
The announcement of this renewed search initiative has elicited varied responses from families of the passengers. While some view it as a hopeful step toward closure, others reflect on the bittersweet nature of the effort. As Malaysia embarks on this voyage for answers, the legacy of flight MH370 continues to cast a long shadow over aviation history.
