The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is being renewed following a proposal by Ocean Infinity, a US marine exploration company, pinpointing a 15,000-square-kilometre zone in the southern Indian Ocean.
Story Summary:
- Ocean Infinity, a US marine company, is leading a new search for MH370 in a 15,000-square-kilometre area based on revised data, under a “no find, no fee” agreement.
- Malaysia’s Transport Minister confirmed that discussions are in advanced stages, and Ocean Infinity stands to earn $70 million if the search is successful.
- MH370’s disappearance remains unsolved, with several theories explored, including possible pilot involvement and hypoxia.
New MH370 search led by US marine company
According to reports, Malaysia’s Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, confirmed on Tuesday that the government is in advanced discussions with Ocean Infinity, which has proposed a “no find, no fee” agreement.
If the wreckage is located, the company would be paid $70 million (est. R1.23 billion), mirroring a previous agreement with Malaysia.
The new search proposal was submitted in June 2024, based on the latest satellite data and expert analyses of drift patterns, which suggest that the missing aircraft could be in a concentrated area near Western Australia.
According to Loke, the arrangement still requires cabinet approval, and further details will be disclosed once negotiations are finalised.
Catch up on the latest MH370 news
Flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200ER carrying 239 passengers and crew, vanished on 8 March 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Roughly 38 minutes after takeoff, the plane’s last voice contact with air traffic control occurred over the South China Sea.
The flight then turned westward, deviating from its original path and crossing over the Malay Peninsula before disappearing from radar over the Andaman Sea.
Despite several international search efforts, which covered about 120,000 square kilometres, no conclusive evidence pinpointing the plane’s location has been found.
Several pieces of debris believed to be from MH370 have washed up along Indian Ocean coastlines, the first of which was discovered on Réunion Island in July 2015.
However, the main wreckage remains missing.
Ocean Infinity, which previously led a search in 2018, used advanced underwater drones but was unsuccessful in locating the aircraft.
The company’s latest proposal is based on updated drift and satellite data, which Ocean Infinity believes narrows down the search area significantly.
Numerous theories have emerged regarding the disappearance of MH370, including possible mechanical failure, pilot hijacking, and hypoxia—a loss of cabin pressure leading to unconsciousness.
The most widely considered hypothesis suggests that the plane veered off course due to an onboard event that incapacitated the crew.
Another theory implicates pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah in a deliberate action, given that data from the cockpit shows the plane’s deviation was potentially intentional.
Malaysian authorities, while conducting one of the largest searches in aviation history, have also examined satellite data, specifically an Inmarsat satellite’s communications with the aircraft, which indicated a flight path into the southern Indian Ocean.
A Malaysian Ministry of Transport report released in 2018 concluded that while they could not rule out foul play, they could not definitively identify the cause of the incident, citing inadequate data to confirm any particular theory.
The renewed search by Ocean Infinity is seen as one of the most promising attempts to solve the MH370 mystery. The area being proposed aligns with analyses conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the University of Western Australia, both of which suggest that the flight’s debris pattern is consistent with a crash site in the vicinity now targeted by Ocean Infinity.
The renewed search effort has gained international attention, particularly as relatives of passengers continue to press for answers.
A Beijing court is currently hearing compensation claims from families of more than 40 Chinese passengers aboard the plane, highlighting the lasting impact of the tragedy, particularly in China, where most passengers were from.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has also acknowledged Malaysia’s commitment to the search, urging close cooperation.
