They will reactivate the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, a plane that disappeared with 239 people

The Government of Malaysia announced this Friday, December 20, 2024, that it has given thegreen light to resume search for airline flight MH370 Malaysia Airlines
, who disappeared with 239 people in the Indian Ocean in March 2014.

In a press conference, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke indicated that is negotiating a deal for British exploration company Ocean Infinity to take on the search for the plane’s wreckage in an area of ​​15,000 kilometers west of Australia.

(Also read: Possible signal from Malaysia Airlines MH370, missing plane: end of the mystery?)

Loke described Ocean Infinity’s information about the possible location of the Malaysia Airlines plane as “credible” and added that he hopes to sign an agreement in early 2025 after specifying the conditions.

What will the search for Malaysia Airlines MH370 be like?

“EThis new search will be carried out under the principle of ‘no location, no payment’. Under this principle, the Malaysian Government will not have to pay Ocean Infinity any fees if the wreckage of the plane is not found.“said the minister in the appearance broadcast on Malaysian television.

Loke said Malaysian authorities’ efforts to find the plane It aims to allow families to put an end to this tragedy.

In a statement, Ocean Infinity welcomed the decision of the Malaysian Government, although it specified that they will have more details about the operations in January.

“After a long wait, the statement from Transport Minister Anthony Loke is great news. We look forward to sharing more news in the new year once we have finalized the details and the team is ready to go,” said Oliver Plunkett, CEO of the company.

How did Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappear?

He Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014 about 40 minutes after taking off from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing, when, upon leaving Malaysia’s airspace and entering Vietnam’s airspace, it deviated from its route towards the southern Indian Ocean, without the causes being yet known.

On board the Boeing 777 Traveling were 153 Chinese, 50 Malaysians (12 were part of the crew), seven Indonesians, six Australians, five Indians, four French, three Americans, two New Zealanders, two Ukrainians, two Canadians, two Iranians, one Russian, one Dutch and one Taiwanese. .

Initially, Malaysia, China and Australia carried out a joint search of about 120,000 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean, but ended the operations in January 2017. not finding the remains.

Ocean Infinity also tried to locate the plane in an area of ​​about 100,000 square kilometers between January and June 2018, without success either.

STRINGER/AFP

(Also read: Disappearance of Malaysia Airlines plane MH370, a mystery that will not be solved)