March 4th 2024.
Ten years ago, on March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, a Boeing 777 aircraft, took off from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members. However, to the shock and despair of everyone involved, the plane mysteriously vanished without a trace, leaving behind only questions and heartache for the families of those on board.
For the past decade, these families have been living with uncertainty and grief, not knowing what happened to their loved ones. However, there is now renewed hope for them as Malaysia has announced plans to resume the search for the missing aircraft. Despite the most extensive search in aviation history, the fate of MH370 remains a mystery, fueling various conspiracy theories.
The Malaysian government, along with Australia and China, had previously called off the search in 2017, after a two-year, $130-million underwater hunt yielded no answers. But now, Malaysia's transportation minister, Anthony Loke, has expressed the country's commitment to continuing the search, inviting US seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity to discuss a new search proposal. This news brought tears of joy to some family members at a recent remembrance event, held at a mall in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.
Loke emphasized that the search must go on if there is credible evidence, and he is willing to seek the Cabinet's approval for a new contract to resume the search. The cost of the proposed search by Ocean Infinity was not disclosed, but Loke assured that cost is not an issue and that there should be no hindrances for the search to proceed.
One family member, Jacquita Gomes, whose husband was a flight attendant on MH370, expressed her relief at the news, saying she is now "on top of the world." She also shared her hope for a full closure and a chance to say a final goodbye if the plane is found. The families have been on an emotional roller coaster for the past 10 years, and Gomes believes that even if this search does not yield results, they will continue to fight for the truth.
In 2018, Malaysia had engaged Ocean Infinity to search the southern Indian Ocean and offered to pay up to $70 million if the plane was found. Now, with improved technology and expertise, the company is determined to return to the search and potentially narrow down the search area. This news has been welcomed by many, including the prime minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, who stated that they are willing to reopen the case if there is compelling evidence.
V.P.R. Nathan, a member of the Voice MH370 next-of-kin group, also confirmed that Ocean Infinity is ready to resume the search after facing delays due to the pandemic and the delivery of a new fleet. CEO Oliver Punkett shared that they have been working with experts to analyze the data and pinpoint a more specific search area.
For the families and loved ones of those on board MH370, the search for answers continues, and they are hopeful that this time, they may finally find the closure they have been longing for. As one family member said, "Whatever needs to be done must be done."
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