On 8 March 2014, a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard disappeared from radar 40 minutes after take-off. Very little is known about the fate of flight MH370. Several searches over the years have had little outcome. Some pieces of debris from the aircraft is all that’s ever been found but a possible new search might change things around.
Despite multiple searches, the location of most of the MH370 aircraft remains unknown and so does the precise reason of its crash. Pieces of debris, or what is thought to be, have been found scattered over the African coast and on islands in the Indian Ocean. A wing flag in Tanzania, a wing fragment in Mauritius and a flaperon in Reunion Island are the main pieces to have been recovered.
A mystery for everyone and especially for the loved ones of the people aboard the plane. With the tenth anniversary of the disappearance of the aircraft, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke has showed his sympathy for those left behind. “As we approach the 10 years remembrance of this heart-wrenching tragedy, it is a painful reminder of the decade-long journey of grief and resilience that loved ones of the victims have endured,” he said.
However, Loke has also mentioned US-based seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity is weighing the options for a renewed search. The company has already searched twice for the MH370, without any results, but has now made a “credible” new search proposal.
“We remain interested in returning to the search for MH370 and are actively engaged in trying to make this happen,” chief executive of Ocean Infinity, Oliver Plunkett, said in a statement. “We now feel in a position to be able to return to the search for missing aircraft MH370, and have submitted a proposal to the Malaysian government. We hope to get back to the search soon.”
The Malaysian Ministry of Transport, in their turn, are open to the idea, stating “cost is not the issue”. “The Ministry of Transport are ready to invite Ocean Infinity to Malaysia to discuss the proposal of a no-find, no-fee proposal. We are waiting for Ocean Infinity to provide the suitable dates and I will meet them any time that they are ready to come to Malaysia,” Loke explained. “I am glad that there is some progress in some of the new research and new technologies, which have been put into place and we really hope that the search can find the plane.”
