New Search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Approved Over a Decade Later

Malaysia’s government has officially greenlit a fresh attempt to locate Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, more than a decade after the plane’s mysterious disappearance. A Texas-based company, Ocean Infinity, will take on the challenge under a "no-find, no-fee" agreement. That means they’ll only get paid—$70 million to be exact—if they manage to uncover any wreckage.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed the arrangement, emphasizing the government’s commitment to bringing closure to the families of the 239 passengers who vanished along with the aircraft. "The government is committed to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of the passengers of flight MH370," he stated.

The disappearance of Flight MH370 in 2014 remains one of aviation’s most perplexing mysteries. The Boeing 777 departed from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing on March 8, 2014, but disappeared from radar just 90 seconds after leaving Malaysian airspace. Satellite data later suggested the aircraft veered off course and likely crashed in the remote southern Indian Ocean.

The search area this time covers a new 5,800-square-mile site on the seabed. Ocean Infinity previously conducted a private search in 2018 that turned up empty-handed, but the company claims to have enhanced its technology since then. CEO Oliver Plunkett earlier noted that new advancements make success "potentially achievable." Let’s hope they’re not just hyping up the tech for drama this time.

Past efforts to locate the plane have been both exhaustive and expensive, involving a multinational search operation that yielded little more than debris washing ashore on the east African coast and nearby islands. Yet, for the families of the passengers, the search remains deeply personal—and their patience, unshakable. A group representing the victims' relatives, Voice370, has long advocated for answers. "As long as we remain in the dark about what happened to MH370, we will never be able to prevent a similar tragedy," the group stated.

Ocean Infinity is expected to begin operations soon, with the company reportedly sending a search vessel to the site. January through April has been identified as the optimal period for the mission.

While the mystery of MH370 has haunted the aviation world for over a decade, this renewed search brings a glimmer of hope. For the families waiting for answers, closure may finally be on the horizon—though after all these years, the stakes couldn’t be higher.