The Malaysian government has agreed in principle to accept a second “no find, no fee” proposal from a US company to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which is believed to have crash-landed in the southern Indian Ocean more than 10 years ago, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Friday.
Loke said government ministers gave the green light at their meeting last week to Texas-based marine robotics company Ocean Infinity to continue its seabed research operation at a new 15,000 kilometer site squares in the ocean next year.
“The proposed new research area, identified by Ocean Infinity, is based on the latest information and data analysis by experts and researchers. The company's proposal is credible”, we read in a note.
The Boeing 777 plane disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese citizens, on a flight from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing. Two Canadian citizens died in the accident.
Remains of MH370 plane, says Malaysian prime minister
The French authorities do not confirm the connection and simply say that it is very probable.
Satellite data showed the plane deviated from its flight path and headed towards the southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. An expensive multinational search failed to find any clues, even as debris washed up on the coasts of East Africa and islands in the Indian Ocean.
A private search conducted in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also found nothing.
The company says the technology has improved since the latest research
Under the new agreement, Ocean Infinity will receive $70 million, but only if significant remains are discovered, Loke said.
He said his ministry will conclude negotiations with Ocean Infinity in early 2025.
The company has indicated that January-April is the best time for research, he said.
“This decision reflects the government's commitment to continuing search operations and ensuring the safety of the families of passengers on MH370,” he added.
Earlier this year, Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Punkett reportedly said that the company had improved its technology compared to 2018. He said that the company is working with many experts to analyze the data and narrow down the search area to the most likely site.
