• Mou Mou
• 26 Feb, 2025

Malaysia has yet to finalise a contract for the renewed search of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 even as a ship moves to a new search zone in the Indian Ocean. This marks another step in the decade-long quest to uncover the fate of the Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8th, 2014 with 239 people on board.

Details & Context

The Malaysian government announced in December 2024 that it had given “principle approval” to resume the search for MH370. However Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that the official contract with U.S. based exploration firm Ocean Infinity is still pending. Despite this Ocean Infinity has already deployed its vessel Armada 78 06 to a section of the Southern Indian Ocean, approximately 2,000 km off Australia’s west coast.

Loke welcomed Ocean Infinity’s proactive approach but stressed that the search operation would not be open-ended. He stated,

“While we support the ship’s mobilisation the contract will outline a specific timeframe for the search efforts.”

According to ship tracking data, the current search area has been expanded by 15,000 sq km - a move driven by new analysis and findings. Ocean Infinity remains confident that this zone holds vital clues, as it covers areas previously missed during past missions.

Background

The search for MH370 has spanned a decade with earlier attempts involving Australia, China and Malaysia combing 120,000 sq km of the Indian Ocean seabed. The last known contact with MH370 occurred roughly 40 minutes after take-off from Kuala Lumpur, after which the aircraft deviated from its planned route to Beijing and disappeared from radar.

Debris confirmed to be from the plane has since washed ashore on African coastlines and Indian Ocean islands. A 2018 investigative report concluded that the aircraft's controls were likely tampered with but could not identify who was responsible. The full truth investigators noted depends on finding the main wreckage.

Read More: Saudi Arabia Foils Two Drug Smuggling Attempts at Major Airports.

Impact Analysis

The renewed search brings a ray of hope to families of the 239 passengers and crew who have long awaited closure. Many have also pursued legal action against Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, Rolls-Royce and Allianz for compensation.

As Ocean Infinity pushes forward with its search in the Indian Ocean the world watches closely, hoping that the mystery of MH370 might finally be solved. The finalisation of the search contract remains a crucial step ensuring clear timelines and accountability.