British-Led Ocean Search for MH370 Resumes in Indian Ocean as Final Attempt to Locate Missing Aircraft Over a Decade After Its Disappearance

In what could be the last attempt to uncover the fate of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, a British-led search has officially begun.

This search comes over a decade after the aircraft vanished with 239 people on board during a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

The disappearance of MH370 in March 2014 sparked global headlines and remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history, with much of the wreckage still unaccounted for.

British Marine Robotics Company Leads the Search

The latest search effort, led by the British marine robotics company Ocean Infinity, involves a six-week excavation of the vast Indian Ocean.

Ocean Infinity has mobilized its deep-water support vessel, the Armada 7806, which is now exploring new areas of the seabed that have never been searched before.

Using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the company will scan the ocean floor for any sign of the missing Boeing 777-200ER.

These AUVs are operated remotely from Southampton via satellite, allowing the team to carry out detailed scans of the ocean’s depths.

Ocean Infinity has focused on several specific “hotspots” in the ocean, areas where researchers believe the plane may have crashed.

New Support from the Malaysian Government

This search marks a turning point, as the Malaysian government signaled its willingness to support fresh efforts to locate the aircraft.

Last December, the government expressed its approval for a “no find, no fee” deal, meaning Ocean Infinity would only receive payment if the plane is found. The deal is valued at £55 million.

Although no formal agreement was signed, Ocean Infinity decided to proceed with the search independently, hoping to complete it before the onset of the southern hemisphere’s winter season.

The duration of the search could extend beyond the initial six weeks, depending on weather conditions.

A Decade of Mystery and Previous Search Efforts

MH370’s disappearance remains one of the most perplexing aviation events in history.

After diverting off its flight path and disappearing from radar, the plane flew south-west across the Malay Peninsula toward the Indian Ocean.

Despite the largest search effort in aviation history—spanning 46,332 square miles of ocean—only a few fragments of the plane have been found, scattered across beaches thousands of miles apart.

In recent years, search efforts have concentrated on a particular arc in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of western Australia, which is based on signals exchanged between the plane and an Inmarsat satellite.

Now, Ocean Infinity’s Armada 7806 is focusing on areas that previous searches may have overlooked.

Targeting New and Unexplored Areas

The search areas identified by Ocean Infinity are relatively small, covering around 5,800 square miles of the ocean floor.

The first area of focus is one that researchers believe may have been previously missed.

The second search zone is located about 1,000 nautical miles south of the first, with the assumption that MH370 may have traveled further before exhausting its fuel.

A third area, based on radio transmission data, and a fourth potential search zone identified by the University of Western Australia, will also be explored.

While the search is ongoing, experts remain cautiously optimistic.

Richard Godfrey, a retired aerospace engineer, suggested the chances of finding the wreckage are “50-50.”

He pointed out that the seabed is far from flat—it’s a treacherous landscape filled with canyons, cliffs, seamounts, and volcanoes, making the search even more difficult.

The Stakes of Discovery

Ocean Infinity’s CEO, Oliver Plunkett, has made it clear that finding MH370 is a personal mission for him.

However, even if the plane is located, raising the wreckage would require permission from the Malaysian government.

If the aircraft is found, the Malaysian authorities will likely face immense pressure from the families of the missing passengers, as well as foreign governments, to proceed with a recovery operation.

The search for MH370 may be nearing its conclusion, but the questions surrounding the plane’s disappearance continue to haunt those seeking answers.