Malaysia Resumes MH370 Search with Ocean Infinity

At a Glance

• Malaysia launches a new MH370 search after years of silence
• Ocean Infinity contract worth $70 m if wreckage is found
• Target area covers 15,000 sq km in the southern Indian Ocean
• Why it matters: Families and investigators still seek closure

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014 left 239 people missing. After a decade of limited progress, the Malaysian government has restarted the seabed search, hoping to finally locate the aircraft.

Background of MH370

• Flight 370 vanished 39 minutes after takeoff from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March 2014.
• The Boeing 777, carrying 12 crew and 227 passengers, lost its transponder and was last heard from over the Andaman Sea.
• Satellite data suggest the jet flew for hours before crashing into the southern Indian Ocean.

Renewed Search Effort

• Malaysia, Australia, and China coordinated the largest underwater search covering 120,000 sq km in 2015, but found only a flaperon on Réunion Island.
• Ocean Infinity previously searched under a no-find, no-fee agreement in 2018, ending without results.
• The new contract pays $70 m only if wreckage is discovered, and the search will focus on a 15,000 sq km area identified by debris drift studies.

Challenges and Next Steps

• The Indian Ocean’s depth averages 4 km, and bad weather has halted operations twice this year.
• No definitive location has been pinpointed, making the search technically difficult.
• Ocean Infinity will use updated technology and expert analysis to narrow the search area before the 55-day operation begins.

Key Takeaways

• Malaysia has restarted the MH370 search with a $70 m reward for wreckage.
• The target area is 15,000 sq km in the southern Indian Ocean.
• The search will run for 55 days starting Dec 30 2024, using new technology and refined data.

The renewed effort brings renewed hope to families and investigators seeking answers to one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.