Deep-Sea Search for Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 to Resume
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A renewed deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will begin December 30, offering a potential, though uncertain, path toward closure for families who have waited nearly a decade for answers.The search will be conducted by U.S.-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity and focus on a 15,000-square-kilometer (5,800-square-mile) area of the Indian Ocean.
The Boeing 777 disappeared in 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, becoming one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.Despite extensive, and ultimately unsuccessful, multinational searches, the main wreckage has never been found.This latest effort represents a renewed commitment by the Malaysian government to locate the aircraft and provide answers to grieving families, and is being undertaken on a “no-find, no-fee” basis.
The transport ministry announced that Ocean Infinity will search intermittently for a total of 55 days, concentrating on areas identified as having the highest probability of containing wreckage. Malaysia’s government gave the green light for the contract with Ocean Infinity in March, agreeing to pay $70 million only if the search yields results. The initial search was paused in April due to adverse weather conditions.
While an earlier, expensive multinational search failed to locate the aircraft, debris confirmed to be from the flight has washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands. Ocean Infinity previously conducted a private search in 2018, also without success.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated Beijing appreciates the efforts being made by the Malaysian side. the resumption of the search underscores the ongoing international interest in resolving the mystery of MH370 and bringing a measure of peace to those affected by the tragedy.
