Malaysia: A renewed search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will begin on December 30, Malaysian authorities announced, marking a fresh attempt to solve one of aviation’s most haunting mysteries.
The 55-day operation had initially started in March but was paused due to severe weather. According to the transport ministry, the revival of the mission underscores Malaysia’s commitment to providing closure to the families affected by this tragedy.
The Boeing 777, carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished on March 8, 2014, triggering the largest search effort in aviation history. Despite extensive operations involving 60 ships, 50 aircraft and 26 nations, the aircraft has never been located.
US-based exploration firm Ocean Infinity will lead the new search under a ‘no find, no fee’ arrangement, and will receive $70 million (£56 million) if it locates the wreckage, Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook confirmed earlier.
Previous missions, including a major multinational search that ended in 2017 and a three-month Ocean Infinity effort in 2018, have yielded no definitive results. Radar data shows MH370 veered sharply off its planned route less than an hour after take-off, prompting years of speculation and a proliferation of conspiracy theories.
A 2018 investigation suggested the aircraft’s controls were likely manipulated to divert it from its flight path, but could not determine who was responsible. Investigators concluded that only the discovery of the wreckage could provide conclusive answers.
For families who have waited more than ten years, the latest operation brings a renewed glimmer of hope and a chance for long-awaited closure.
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