May 21st 2024.
A devastating tragedy struck in 2014 when Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared during a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, leaving behind 239 passengers and crew members. For the families of those onboard, the pain and uncertainty of not knowing what happened to their loved ones has been a constant struggle. However, there is now renewed hope as researchers from Cardiff University have proposed a new plan to finally locate the crash site of the ill-fated plane.
Despite an extensive underwater search and investigation, the whereabouts of the aircraft and the fate of its passengers remain a mystery. But according to the researchers, there may be a new lead. They believe that audio signals captured at a hydroacoustic station off the coast of Australia could hold the key to unraveling the mystery of MH370.
It is a known fact that when an aircraft crashes into the water, it creates unique acoustic signatures that can travel long distances through the water. Dr Usama Kadri, a Reader at Cardiff University's School of Mathematics, explains that their analysis has shown clear pressure signals from previous aircraft crashes were detected on hydrophones, even at distances of over 3,000km. This is a significant discovery, as it means that the signals could potentially lead them to the crash site of MH370.
In the case of MH370, the last communication between the aircraft and INMARSAT occurred near the 7th arc, which is the point at which the official investigation concluded the plane must have crashed. The main search area at the 7th arc is less than 2,000km away from the hydroacoustic station at Cape Leeuwin, Australia, with no obstacles to filter out the signal. However, during the official search, only a single, relatively weak signal was identified within the suggested time frame and location.
Despite this setback, there is still hope. A number of pieces from the plane have been recovered in various locations, including Australia, South Africa, and Mozambique. Investigators are now considering launching a series of controlled underwater explosions to isolate a more precise location. This method has been successful in other searches, giving the families of the victims reason to believe that they may finally receive some answers.
Dr Kadri points out that similar exercises were performed in the search and rescue mission for the ARA San Juan, a submarine that vanished off the coast of Argentina in 2017. This gives them confidence that it is possible to determine the relevance of the observed signals to MH370 before embarking on another extensive search. If the signals are found to be related, it could significantly narrow down the aircraft's location. On the other hand, if they are unrelated, it would indicate a need for authorities to reassess their search efforts.
Unfortunately, the researchers' findings have not been enough to formally reopen the search for MH370. "We've been unable to find a signal with the certainty needed to launch a new search for the missing aircraft," says Dr Kadri. However, he remains hopeful that if the appropriate authorities follow their recommendations, they may be able to assess the relevance of the observed signals and potentially shed some light on the location of MH370. For the families of the victims, this could finally bring them the closure they have been desperately seeking.
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