December 20th 2024.
The government of Malaysia has recently come to an agreement in principle to accept a second proposal from a US company for the search of flight MH370. This flight, which disappeared over 10 years ago, is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. The Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, announced on Friday that the Cabinet ministers had given their approval for Texas-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity to continue the seabed search operation at a new site in the ocean next year.
According to Loke, the proposed new search area, identified by Ocean Infinity, is based on the latest information and data analyses conducted by experts and researchers. He further stated that the company's proposal is credible, making it a viable option for the government to consider. The decision to accept this proposal was made at a Cabinet meeting last week, where it was deemed to be in the best interest of all parties involved.
The Boeing 777 plane disappeared from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board, mostly Chinese nationals. It was on a flight from Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing when satellite data showed it deviated from its flight path and headed towards the southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. Despite an expensive multinational search effort, no significant clues were found. However, debris was found on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands. A private search conducted by Ocean Infinity in 2018 also yielded no results.
Under the new deal, Ocean Infinity will only receive $70 million if they are able to discover significant wreckage. Loke mentioned that negotiations with the company will be finalized in early 2025, with the firm indicating that the best time for the search would be between January and April. This decision, according to Loke, reflects the government's commitment to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of those on board MH370.
The CEO of Ocean Infinity, Oliver Plunkett, has stated that the company has made significant technological advancements since their last search in 2018. He also mentioned that they are working closely with experts to analyze data and narrow down the search area to the most likely site. In a statement earlier this year, Plunkett expressed his confidence in the company's ability to conduct a thorough and effective search.
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