The Malaysian cabinet has given the green light for a new search for the wreckage of flight MH370, which vanished in 2014, with a promise to families for closure and a "no find, no fee" contract with exploration company Ocean Infinity.
**Malaysia Approves New Search for MH370 in Indian Ocean**
**Malaysia Approves New Search for MH370 in Indian Ocean**
Amid lingering mysteries, Malaysia initiates fresh efforts to locate missing flight MH370, over a decade after its disappearance.
The Malaysian government has officially approved a renewed search operation for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared over nine years ago while on its journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The search, covering an area of 15,000 square kilometers in the southern Indian Ocean, will be conducted under a "no find, no fee" agreement with the exploration firm Ocean Infinity. The company will earn $70 million (£56 million) if the wreckage is located, as announced by Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook.
Flight MH370, which disappeared on March 8, 2014, had 239 individuals on board, and its fate remains one of the globe's most perplexing aviation mysteries. Despite various extensive and costly search efforts—amounting to approximately $150 million (£120 million) and involving Malaysia, Australia, and China—no wreckage has been discovered thus far. The original comprehensive search concluded in 2017 but left many questions unanswered.
The Malaysian government decided to renew the search after receiving new evidence that may help pinpoint the aircraft's location. A previous search by Ocean Infinity in 2018 under similar terms yielded no success after three months of operation. In December, Malaysia's government preliminarily agreed to revive the search, with final negotiations concluding in March and the official approval coming Wednesday.
Loke emphasized the government's commitment to finding closure for the families affected by the tragedy. The aircraft made its last communication with air traffic control shortly after takeoff, deviating from its intended route. Investigators widely believe MH370 crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, though the exact cause of the crash is still murky. Several pieces of debris identified as belonging to the aircraft have washed ashore over the years.
The mystery surrounding flight MH370 has prompted numerous conspiracy theories, ranging from suggestions of pilot sabotage to claims of a military shooting. Investigators have indicated that a deliberate manipulation of the plane's controls led to its deviation from course, but the exact reason remains unresolved without the recovery of the wreckage. As the fresh search begins, families of the passengers have responded with a mix of hope and skepticism, with some viewing it as a positive step towards closure, while others find it a bittersweet reminder of their loss.
Flight MH370, which disappeared on March 8, 2014, had 239 individuals on board, and its fate remains one of the globe's most perplexing aviation mysteries. Despite various extensive and costly search efforts—amounting to approximately $150 million (£120 million) and involving Malaysia, Australia, and China—no wreckage has been discovered thus far. The original comprehensive search concluded in 2017 but left many questions unanswered.
The Malaysian government decided to renew the search after receiving new evidence that may help pinpoint the aircraft's location. A previous search by Ocean Infinity in 2018 under similar terms yielded no success after three months of operation. In December, Malaysia's government preliminarily agreed to revive the search, with final negotiations concluding in March and the official approval coming Wednesday.
Loke emphasized the government's commitment to finding closure for the families affected by the tragedy. The aircraft made its last communication with air traffic control shortly after takeoff, deviating from its intended route. Investigators widely believe MH370 crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, though the exact cause of the crash is still murky. Several pieces of debris identified as belonging to the aircraft have washed ashore over the years.
The mystery surrounding flight MH370 has prompted numerous conspiracy theories, ranging from suggestions of pilot sabotage to claims of a military shooting. Investigators have indicated that a deliberate manipulation of the plane's controls led to its deviation from course, but the exact reason remains unresolved without the recovery of the wreckage. As the fresh search begins, families of the passengers have responded with a mix of hope and skepticism, with some viewing it as a positive step towards closure, while others find it a bittersweet reminder of their loss.
