The Malaysian government has agreed in principle to accept a second “no-find, no-cost” proposal from a US company to renew the hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. and 10 years ago, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Friday.
Loke said cabinet ministers at their meeting last week gave Texas-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity the go-ahead to continue its seabed survey work at the new 15,000-kilometer site. square in the ocean next year.
“The proposed new research area, identified by Ocean Infinity, is based on the latest information and data analyzes carried out by experts and researchers. The company's proposal is credible,” he said in a statement.
The Boeing 777 plane disappeared shortly after takeoff on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, on a flight from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing. Two Canadian citizens were killed in the accident.
French authorities stop short of confirming the link, saying only that it is highly likely
Satellite data showed that the plane deviated from its flight path to the southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. An expensive multinational search turned up no clues, although debris washed ashore on the coast of East Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean.
A private investigation in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also found nothing.
The company says that technology has improved since the last research
Under the new agreement, Ocean Infinity will receive US$70 million, but only if a large wreck is found, Loke said.
He said his ministry would conclude negotiations with Ocean Infinity in early 2025.
The company has indicated that January-April is the best time for the inspection, he said.
“This decision demonstrates the government's commitment to continuing the investigation and providing closure to the families of MH370 passengers,” he said.
Earlier this year, the CEO of Ocean Infinity, Oliver Punkett, said that the company has developed its technology since 2018. He said that the company is working with many experts to analyze data and to narrow the search area to the most likely site.
