Resumption of Search for Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight

Authorities in Malaysia are preparing to resume efforts to locate Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which vanished under mysterious circumstances more than ten years ago. The nation's transport ministry announced that the search will recommence on December 30, led by Ocean Infinity, a U.S.-based company specializing in deep-sea exploration and marine robotics.

The operation will run intermittently over a 55-day period, focusing on identifying any remaining wreckage from the ill-fated flight. Ocean Infinity is operating under a no find, no fee arrangement, meaning it will receive $70 million from the Malaysian government only if the aircraft is recovered.

The transport ministry emphasized that this initiative reflects Malaysias dedication to bringing closure to the families of those lost in the disaster. Flight 370, a Boeing 777-200ER, disappeared from radar on March 8, 2014, while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 12 crew members and 227 passengers aboard. All on board are presumed deceased, marking it as the deadliest aircraft disappearance in aviation history.

Over the years, multinational search efforts have involved ships and aircraft from more than 25 countries, including Malaysia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Australia, concentrating mainly on waters near Southeast Asia and the southern Indian Ocean. Debris confirmed to be from Flight 370 was first discovered on Runion Island in 2015, with additional pieces found near Mozambique the following year. However, the main fuselage and wings remain missing.

Speculation about the cause of the disappearance has ranged from pilot involvement in a deliberate act, to onboard fire from lithium-ion batteries, to a sudden crew incapacitation due to hypoxia. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak stated in 2014 that the planes communication and tracking systems had been intentionally disabled, allowing it to fly off course for approximately six hours after vanishing from radar.

Author: Jackson Miller