Marine Robotics Firm Resumes Decade-Long Deep-Sea Search for MH370

Malaysia Resumes Search for Missing Flight 370

Malaysia's transport ministry has announced that a private firm will resume a deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 later this month, over a decade after the aircraft vanished without a trace. The search will be conducted by Ocean Infinity, a marine robotics company based in Texas, which signed a new "no-find, no-fee" contract with the Malaysian government in March.

The company is expected to begin its operations in the coming weeks, focusing on a specific area in the Indian Ocean. However, it remains unclear whether Ocean Infinity has any new evidence pointing to the plane’s location. In previous statements, CEO Oliver Punkett mentioned that the company has improved its technology since 2018, when it first conducted a seabed search under a similar agreement and found nothing. According to Punkett, the company is working with experts to analyze data and has narrowed the search area to the most likely site.

Earlier this year, Ocean Infinity restarted its seabed search operation at a new 15,000-square-kilometer (5,800-square-mile) site in the Indian Ocean after receiving approval from the Malaysian government. However, the search was paused in April due to adverse weather conditions. If wreckage is discovered, the company will be paid $70 million.

Flight 370, a Boeing 777, disappeared from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Satellite data indicated that the plane deviated from its original route and headed south toward the southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed.

Despite an expensive multinational search effort, no definitive clues about the plane’s location were found. Some debris washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands, but apart from these small fragments, no bodies or significant wreckage have ever been recovered.

Malaysia's transport ministry stated in a brief release that Ocean Infinity will conduct intermittent searches from December 30 for a total of 55 days, focusing on areas considered most likely to yield results. The ministry emphasized that the latest development reflects the government’s commitment to providing closure to the families affected by the tragedy.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the Malaysian side. However, Ocean Infinity declined to comment on the search when contacted by the Associated Press.

The search for Flight 370 continues to capture global attention, as families and investigators seek answers after more than a decade of uncertainty.