Government of Malaysia agreed in principle to accept a second “no money, no fee” offer from a US company to resume the hunt for flight MH370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern hemisphere of the Indian Ocean more than 10 years ago, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said. Friday.
Loke said Cabinet ministers agreed at their meeting last week for the Texas-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity to continue the sea search campaign in the new 15,000-square kilometer (5,800-square-mile) area. ) in the sea next year.
“The new search area, chosen by Ocean Infinity, is based on the latest information and data analyzes made by experts and researchers. The company's proposal can be trusted,” he said in a statement.
The Boeing 777 disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, on a flight from the Malaysian capital. Kuala Lumpurto Beijing. Satellite data showed the plane had veered off course towards the southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed.
Air Force Officer Rayan Gharazeddine scans the waters of the Indian Ocean south of Australia from a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion during the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, March 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
An expensive international search yielded no clues, even as debris washed ashore east coast of Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean. A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also turned up nothing.
Under the new agreement, Ocean Infinity will receive $70 million if significant damage is found, Loke said. He said his department would complete negotiations with Ocean Infinity in early 2025. The firm has indicated that January-April is the best time to search, he said.
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“This decision shows the government's commitment to continue the search and recovery process for the families of the MH370 passengers,” he added.
The CEO of Ocean Infinity Oliver Punkett earlier this year reported that the company has improved its technology since 2018. He said that the firm is working with many experts to analyze the data and narrow the search area to a possible location. .