Malaysia to Resume Search for Missing Flight MH370
TDT | Manama
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The Malaysian government has announced its agreement in principle to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which vanished nearly a decade ago in one of aviation's most perplexing mysteries.
Flight MH370 disappeared in March 2014 during its journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying 239 passengers and crew. Despite extensive efforts, the wreckage of the Boeing 777 remains undiscovered, leaving hundreds of families grappling with unanswered questions and unresolved grief.
New Search Agreement with Ocean Infinity
Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed on Friday that the Malaysian cabinet had approved, in principle, a $70 million deal with Ocean Infinity, a U.S.-based marine exploration firm, to lead a renewed search effort. The agreement operates under a "no find, no fee" arrangement, ensuring Ocean Infinity is compensated only if the wreckage is located.
This is not the first collaboration between Malaysia and Ocean Infinity. A similar mission conducted by the firm in 2018 ended without success after three months of exploration. Prior to that, a multinational search effort costing $150 million was called off in 2017 after two years of scanning a vast area of the southern Indian Ocean.
Focused Search Area and Credible Data
The upcoming search will target a 15,000-square-kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean, guided by new data that Malaysian authorities deem credible. Minister Loke expressed cautious optimism, stating, "We hope this time will be positive." He emphasized that finding the wreckage could provide much-needed closure for the families of those aboard.
While the government has accepted the proposal in principle, negotiations regarding the specific terms of the deal are ongoing and are expected to be finalized early next year.
Families React with Hope and Sorrow
The announcement has elicited a mixed response from the relatives of the passengers and crew. Jacquita Gonzales, the wife of MH370 inflight supervisor Patrick Gomes, described the news as "the best Christmas present ever." Intan Maizura Othaman, the widow of cabin crew member Mohd Hazrin Mohamed Hasnan, shared her bittersweet emotions, saying, "This announcement stirs mixed emotions - hope, gratitude, and sorrow. After nearly 11 years, the uncertainty and pain of not having answers have been incredibly difficult for us."
Jiang Hui, whose mother was among the passengers, urged the Malaysian government to adopt a more inclusive approach to the search, allowing broader participation from other stakeholders.
Ocean Infinity’s Commitment
Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Plunkett welcomed Malaysia’s decision, describing it as "great news." He added, "We look forward to sharing further updates in the new year once we've finalized the details and the team gets ready to go."
The Mystery of Flight MH370
Flight MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur in the early hours of March 8, 2014. Communication with air traffic control was lost less than an hour after takeoff, and radar data revealed the plane had veered off its planned flight path. While investigators generally agree that the aircraft likely crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, the reasons behind its disappearance remain elusive.
In the years since, pieces of debris believed to belong to MH370 have washed ashore along the Indian Ocean. A 2018 investigation concluded that the plane’s controls were likely manipulated to divert its course deliberately, but it stopped short of identifying who was responsible.
The enduring mystery has fueled numerous conspiracy theories, ranging from claims of pilot suicide to suggestions of foreign military involvement. With the resumption of the search, families and aviation experts alike hope for definitive answers to one of modern aviation’s most enduring enigmas.
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