Ocean Infinity and Malaysia reignite the hunt for MH370
The Malaysian government has announced plans to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, nearly a decade after the Boeing 777 disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed in late December that maritime exploration company Ocean Infinity will lead the renewed effort under a ‘no find, no fee’ arrangement.
Flight MH370 vanished in March 2014 during a journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying 239 passengers and crew. Despite extensive international efforts, the search for the aircraft has spanned years without uncovering conclusive evidence of its final resting place.
New hope with advanced technology
Ocean Infinity, which conducted an unsuccessful three-month search for the wreckage in 2018, believes it now has better techniques and a more defined search area. The company’s proposal, submitted earlier this year, has been accepted in principle by the Malaysian government. Under the agreement, Ocean Infinity will be compensated US$70 million (approximately €67.4 million) if the wreckage is located.
The disappearance of MH370 remains one of aviation’s greatest unsolved mysteries. The initial multinational search effort, led by Malaysia, Australia and China, covered more than four million square kilometres of the Indian Ocean and lasted three years, concluding in 2017. The operation, which involved military and civilian resources from over 26 countries, was the most extensive and expensive in aviation history, costing millions of dollars.
Remote southern Indian Ocean
While the aircraft’s exact location remains unknown, investigators suspect it crashed in the remote southern Indian Ocean, west of Australia. Debris linked to MH370, including a wing part discovered on La Réunion in 2015, has since washed ashore on islands in the Indian Ocean and along the African coast.
The latest search reflects the government’s commitment to finding answers for the families of those on board. Loke emphasized the enduring impact of MH370’s disappearance on aviation history and the lives it touched, underlining the importance of bringing closure to this tragedy.
Preparations for the search are underway, with Ocean Infinity expressing confidence in its enhanced methods and technology. The company has outlined how its improved approach, coupled with a more precise search area, increases the likelihood of success.
With operations expected to begin in 2025, the renewed effort offers a glimmer of hope for solving one of aviation’s most perplexing mysteries.
