Malaysia’s transport ministry announced on Wednesday that the deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will recommence on December 30, reigniting hopes of finally locating the aircraft that disappeared over a decade ago. The Boeing 777 aircraft vanished from radar shortly after departure on March 8, 2014, with 239 passengers onboard, predominantly Chinese nationals, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Satellite data indicated a deviation from the planned flight path, leading the plane to veer south towards the remote southern Indian Ocean, where it is presumed to have crashed.
The ministry disclosed that U.S.-based marine robotics company Ocean Infinity will conduct targeted search operations in high-probability areas for a total of 55 days starting December 30. This initiative demonstrates the Malaysian government’s dedication to providing closure to the families impacted by this tragic event.
In a proactive move, Malaysia’s government approved a “no-find, no-fee” agreement with Ocean Infinity in March to resume the underwater exploration at a newly designated 15,000-square-kilometre site in the ocean. Ocean Infinity stands to receive $97 million Cdn only if remnants of the aircraft are located. Inclement weather conditions had halted the search in April.
Despite a costly multinational search effort yielding no breakthrough in pinpointing the aircraft’s whereabouts, fragments were discovered along the east African coast and on Indian Ocean islands. A private exploration carried out by Ocean Infinity in 2018 also came up empty-handed.
