Renewed Search for MH370 Set to Commence After 12 Years

Post by : Mina Rahman

Over 12 years have passed since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished with 239 souls on board, leaving families and investigators in a state of uncertainty. The Boeing 777 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying primarily passengers from China and Malaysia, alongside individuals from India, France, Australia, Indonesia, the U.S., Ukraine, and Canada.

The last clear communication was from Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, who signed off roughly 40 minutes into the flight with a simple, "Good night, Malaysian Three Seven Zero," just before crossing into Vietnamese airspace. Shortly thereafter, the transponder ceased to function, preventing civilian radar tracking. Subsequent military radar analysis revealed that MH370 executed a sharp turn back toward Malaysia, traversed over Penang Island, and steered toward the Andaman Sea before ultimately vanishing into the depths of the Indian Ocean.

Malaysia, Australia, and China embarked on one of the most extensive underwater searches in history, scouring an area of 120,000 square kilometers in the southern Indian Ocean. Despite close to A$200 million invested, the search concluded in January 2017 with no discovery of wreckage. In 2018, U.S.-based Ocean Infinity launched another operation under a "no-cure, no-fee" agreement, exploring an additional 112,000 square kilometers north of the initial search area, which also yielded no results.

Throughout the years, over 30 potential debris pieces have washed ashore on the coasts of Africa and surrounding Indian Ocean islands; however, only three wing fragments have been definitively linked to MH370. These findings have been utilized to analyze ocean drift patterns, aimed at narrowing down where the aircraft may have gone down, yet conclusive results elude investigators.

In July 2018, a comprehensive 495-page investigative report indicated that the airplane's controls were likely manipulated intentionally, but who was responsible remains undetermined. The investigators found no indications of unusual behavior or mental health issues concerning either the captain or the first officer. Furthermore, lapses in air traffic control procedures in Malaysia and Vietnam were noted, prompting recommendations for improvements to prevent similar occurrences. Without the physical wreckage, a conclusive explanation remains out of reach.

The lack of definitive evidence has led to various theories, including mechanical failure, hijacking, and even far-fetched notions involving secret operations or extraterrestrial factors. Aviation specialists have suggested that deliberate diversion by an informed individual may be the most plausible scenario, though nothing can be substantiated.

In December 2024, Malaysia announced plans to restart the search following a new proposal from Ocean Infinity, which will receive $70 million if significant wreckage is located. A brief search attempt in March was halted due to challenging weather conditions. The renewed search operation is set to begin on December 30, focusing on a 15,000 square kilometer area of the southern Indian Ocean. The Malaysian transport ministry stated that the mission would involve 55 days of intermittent seabed scanning in a region deemed to have the highest likelihood of containing the aircraft, though the precise location remains undisclosed.