- Search for MH370 wreckage suspended due to poor weather conditions.
- Transport Minister confirms operations will resume at year’s end.
- Ocean Infinity’s search to cover 15,000 sq km in new location.
- Search operates on a “no find, no fee” principle, with a $70 million reward.
- Families of passengers remain patient after more than 11 years of waiting.
The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has temporarily paused because of bad weather. Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook confirmed the halt on Thursday and said operations will restart later this year.
Flight MH370 vanished on March 8, 2014, while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane lost contact with air traffic control, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members onboard.
Loke shared that Ocean Infinity had paused its operations. “I think right now it’s not the season. They (Ocean Infinity) have stopped the operation for the time being and will resume the search at the end of this year,” he said.
Prolonged Efforts to Locate the Wreckage
The current search, led by Ocean Infinity, is part of a deal made between Malaysia and the company last month. This search focuses on a new area in the southern Indian Ocean, covering 15,000 square kilometers. The region is notorious for its extreme weather and vast, remote stretches.
Under the agreement, Ocean Infinity will only receive payment if they find the wreckage. In other words, they work on a “no find, no fee” principle. If they succeed, the company would receive a $70 million reward for their efforts.
This search marks yet another attempt to locate MH370. Previous operations, though extensive, failed to find the plane. The new search area was chosen after analyzing the data and considering new possibilities about where the wreckage might be.
Kelvin Shim, whose wife was on board MH370, shared his thoughts on the extended delay. “We have been waiting for more than 11 years, so this is just another few more months… I can still wait,” he said. His words reflect both patience and pain.
For the families of those lost, the wait has been long and filled with frustration. However, the decision to resume the search in December gives them renewed hope. They still hold on to the hope that they will eventually receive the answers they desperately seek.
The “No Find, No Fee” Search Model
Ocean Infinity’s contract follows a “no find, no fee” model. Essentially, the company only gets paid if they locate the wreckage. This arrangement emphasizes the immense challenge of finding it.
The southern Indian Ocean is vast and remote, making the task even harder. Ocean Infinity took over the search in 2018, and despite facing tough conditions, they haven’t succeeded yet. Nevertheless, they keep trying with new technology.
Although MH370’s believed location has already been searched, no substantial findings have surfaced. However, the new search area could hold the key. Still, navigating the difficult conditions will take time.
The Ongoing Mystery
The disappearance of MH370 still captures the world’s attention. The mystery surrounding the flight has sparked numerous theories. Yet, the lack of answers leaves families and the public with more questions than solutions.
Fortunately, the search will resume later this year, offering families a slim hope of finding the wreckage. This renewed effort may finally solve the mystery of the flight’s fate, giving them some closure.
However, the decision to pause the search until December introduces another delay. Due to weather conditions in the southern Indian Ocean, continuing the search is impossible. As a result, families must wait several months before the search resumes.
Despite the extended delay, the world will continue to watch. Families remain patient, holding onto hope that the wreckage will eventually be found, bringing an end to the decade-long mystery with the answers they’ve been waiting for.