More than a decade after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 mysteriously vanished, the Malaysian government has once again committed to finding answers.
In a significant development, authorities have reached an agreement with ocean exploration firm Ocean Infinity to resume the search for the missing aircraft.
This renewed effort brings fresh hope to the families of the 239 passengers and crew who were aboard the Boeing 777 when it disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014.
A High-Stakes Search Operation
The upcoming search will focus on a new area covering approximately 5,790 square miles in the southern Indian Ocean.
Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook confirmed that the operation will follow a “no find, no fee” arrangement, meaning Ocean Infinity will only receive payment if the wreckage is discovered.
If successful, the company stands to earn $70 million.
“We are committed to continuing this search and bringing closure to the families of those on board MH370,” Loke stated.
Ocean Infinity’s Second Attempt
This isn’t Ocean Infinity’s first attempt at locating MH370. The firm previously conducted a deep-sea search in 2018 but came up empty-handed.
Prior to that, a joint effort by Malaysia, Australia, and China had scoured a 46,332-square-mile section of the ocean based on satellite data, but no definitive wreckage was found.
Despite these past failures, Ocean Infinity remains optimistic.
A specialized search vessel was dispatched to the target zone in the Indian Ocean late last month, even before the agreement with the Malaysian government was finalized.
While the exact duration of the search contract remains unclear, previous reports suggest it could extend up to 18 months.
Experts Warn of Extreme Challenges
While technology has improved since the last search, experts caution that the mission remains fraught with dangers.
Former Australian naval officer Peter Waring compared the advanced equipment being used to a “giant leap in maritime technology,” akin to the transition from sail to steam in the 19th century.
However, Waring also highlighted the brutal conditions searchers will face.
“The waves in this region can reach up to 20 meters (65 feet), and there is absolutely no shelter.
If something goes wrong, the situation can turn catastrophic very quickly,” he warned.
With the nearest port—Perth—being nearly a week’s journey away, response times in emergencies will be a significant concern.
Deep-sea explorer Craig Wallace echoed these concerns, emphasizing that extreme weather will likely limit how often search teams can deploy and retrieve their equipment.
The Science Behind the New Search
Ocean Infinity’s revised search area is based on multiple factors, including estimated flight paths, satellite communications data, and the drift patterns of aircraft debris that has washed ashore as far as Madagascar and Mauritius.
Former RAAF and Qantas pilot Mike Glynn, however, remains skeptical.
He believes that some of the data being used is unreliable, particularly a theory involving anomalies in radio signals.
“The idea that tracking weak signal propagation can pinpoint the aircraft’s location is flawed,” Glynn stated, arguing that Malaysia may be pinning its hopes on misleading data.
Theories and Unanswered Questions
Even after a decade, speculation about MH370’s fate continues.
One controversial theory suggests that the aircraft’s pilot, Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, deliberately diverted the flight in an act of mass murder-suicide.
While this remains unproven, it adds another layer of intrigue to one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.
Meanwhile, questions remain over jurisdiction should the wreckage be found.
Who would take responsibility for it, and how would investigations proceed? These issues will likely come into focus as the search moves forward.
A Long Road Ahead
For now, the world watches and waits. Families of the victims have endured years of uncertainty, and this latest search represents what may be their last chance for closure.
Whether this mission will finally uncover the fate of MH370 remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the mystery is far from over.