After 10 years since the disappearance of MH370, the fourth search is about to begin. Previous " bottom-finding" efforts, including a multinational search and two conducted by the US company Ocean Infinity, have not yielded results. This time, the contract will be made on a "no find, no fee" basis.
History of the disappearance of MH370
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was a Boeing 777, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members. The plane disappeared on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Although some debris has been found along the coast of Africa and on islands in the Indian Ocean, only three wing fragments have been confirmed to belong to MH370.
In 2018, the Malaysian government published a 495-page report, saying that someone may have tampered with the plane's control system. However, the report did not determine the responsibility or exact cause and confirmed that it was only possible to verify what happened when the wreckage was found.
Why has the search for MH370 been resumed?
Malaysia said it has reviewed new information from many experts and Ocean Infinity is confident it can find the plane's location.
This search will focus on a new seabed in the southern Indian Ocean, covering an area of 15,000 square kilometres and lasting 18 months. The company plans to start the search from January to April, the optimal time to carry out the mission.
Under the deal, the Malaysian government will only pay Ocean Infinity if it finds and verifies the missing pieces. If successful, the company will receive a reward of $70 million.
What we know about MH370's final journey
Just 40 minutes after takeoff, MH370 captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah made a final contact with the ground: Good night, Malaysia three seven nos. The positioning system was then turned off, making it difficult to track the plane.
Military radar data shows that MH370 deviated from its original course, flying over Malaysia, Penang Island, out into the Andaman Sea, towards Indonesia's Sumatra Island before disappearing. Here's everything we know about the doomed flight.
Previous search efforts
The first major search, conducted jointly by Malaysia, Australia and China, has swept 120,000 square kilometres of the seabed in the southern Indian Ocean. Based on data from Inmarsat satellites, the effort cost more than $ 140 million but found no trace. The search ended in January 2017.
Ocean Infinity then conducted two separate searches but also failed to yield positive results.
Hope from the new search
With advanced technology and updated data, this search brings new hope in solving the mystery of MH370. If the wreckage is found, not only the victims' families but the whole world can find a solution to one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. However, many people believe that this search may just be "finding the bottom needle".
