Kuala Lumpur, 20 March - More than a decade after the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the Malaysian government has announced its decision to resume the search for the missing aircraft’s wreckage. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook revealed that the Cabinet had approved a service agreement with Ocean Infinity, a marine exploration company based in the United Kingdom, to recommence the hunt for the Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8, 2014. The plane, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members, was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared from radar screens, leaving behind one of aviation’s greatest unsolved mysteries. The renewed effort, set to cover a new search area in the southern Indian Ocean, operates under a “no find, no fee” arrangement, meaning the government will only pay Ocean Infinity a sum of US$70 million if the wreckage is successfully located.
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The decision to partner once again with Ocean Infinity comes after years of stalled efforts to uncover the fate of MH370. Previous searches, including a massive multinational operation led by Malaysia, Australia, and China that spanned 120,000 square kilometers of the southern Indian Ocean, failed to locate the main wreckage. That endeavor, which concluded in 2017, relied on data from automated satellite connections and cost approximately US$150 million. Ocean Infinity itself conducted a prior search in 2018, also on a “no find, no fee” basis, but despite scouring vast stretches of the seabed, it too ended without success. However, advancements in technology and new analyses of existing data have renewed hope. The latest search area, estimated at 15,000 square kilometers, is based on what the Malaysian government describes as credible information reviewed by experts, though specific details about the data remain undisclosed.
Flight MH370’s disappearance has haunted the aviation world since it veered off course less than an hour after takeoff. Military radar tracked the plane as it turned west over the Strait of Malacca, far from its intended flight path, before it presumably headed south into the Indian Ocean. Over the years, small pieces of debris believed to be from the aircraft have washed ashore on islands and coastal regions, including Reunion Island and Tanzania, supporting the theory that it crashed in the remote ocean expanse. Yet, the absence of the main wreckage has fueled speculation and left families of the victims without closure. A 2018 report suggested the plane’s controls were deliberately manipulated, but without the flight data recorders—commonly known as black boxes—investigators have been unable to determine the cause, whether mechanical failure, human intervention, or something else entirely.
Transport Minister Loke emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving this lingering tragedy, particularly for the families who have waited over a decade for answers. The agreement with Ocean Infinity, which the Ministry of Transport will formalize on behalf of Malaysia, reflects a cautious yet determined approach. The “no find, no fee” model minimizes financial risk for the government while leveraging Ocean Infinity’s expertise in underwater robotics and seabed mapping. The company has expressed confidence in its ability to succeed where previous efforts fell short, citing improved technology and a refined understanding of the search zone. Although the duration of the search has not been fully detailed, earlier statements from Loke suggested an 18-month timeframe, with the optimal window for operations occurring between January and April due to favorable weather conditions in the southern Indian Ocean. The resumption of the MH370 search marks a significant step toward potentially solving a mystery that has perplexed experts and captivated the world. For Malaysia, it is both a logistical challenge and a moral obligation to the 239 people on board and their loved ones. Whether Ocean Infinity’s efforts will finally uncover the wreckage—and with it, the truth—remains uncertain, but the renewed mission offers a glimmer of hope in a case that has long seemed destined to remain unresolved.