The Malaysian government has officially endorsed plans for Texas-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which mysteriously disappeared in the southern Indian Ocean over nine years ago. Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that cabinet ministers have agreed on a “no-find, no-fee” arrangement, allowing Ocean Infinity to conduct a search across a newly designated area of 15,000 square kilometres.
Under this agreement, Ocean Infinity will only receive payment of $70 million (approximately A$110 million) if any wreckage is discovered. The Boeing 777 vanished from radar on March 8, 2014, while carrying 239 passengers, predominantly from China, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. After deviating from its planned flight path, the aircraft reportedly headed south into the Indian Ocean before it is believed to have crashed.
Previous multinational search efforts yielded no significant clues, although some debris was found on the east African coast, as well as on Indian Ocean islands. A private search conducted by Ocean Infinity in 2018 also failed to locate any remnants of the aircraft. However, in light of the new search, Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Punkett expressed confidence that advancements in technology since 2018 would aid in the investigation. The company is collaborating with various experts to analyse data and refine their search to the most promising locations.
The latest approval for this new search comes three months after the Malaysian government provisionally accepted the proposal. Minister Loke indicated that a formal contract with Ocean Infinity would be finalised soon, although specifics regarding the agreement were not disclosed. The firm has reportedly dispatched a vessel to the designated search site and aims to utilise the optimal searching conditions available from January to April.
Loke reiterated the government’s dedication to ongoing search efforts, emphasising the importance of providing closure for the families affected by the disappearance of Flight MH370.