Flight MH370, a B777-200 aircraft, mysteriously vanished on March 8, 2014, after departing Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. The flight, which carried 227 passengers and 12 crew members, was last seen on military radar at 2:14 am as it veered west over the Strait of Malacca. Despite a massive search effort that spanned several years and thousands of square kilometers in the southern Indian Ocean, the plane remains missing. However, Malaysia has agreed to resume the search in December 2024, with Ocean Infinity taking on the task under a "no-find-no-fee" arrangement.
The disappearance of MH370, which included eight Australian passengers, remains one of aviation's most perplexing mysteries. Shortly after takeoff, at 1:30 am local time, Malaysia Airlines lost contact with the plane, which was supposed to land in Beijing around 6:30 am. Investigators discovered data from a flight simulator at pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah's home, showing a plotted course to the southern Indian Ocean. This information pointed to a possible location for MH370's wreckage.
In January 2017, Australian authorities concluded their extensive underwater search in the southern Indian Ocean after scouring 120,000 square kilometers without success. The final report on October 3, 2017, acknowledged the difficulty in providing closure to the families of those on board. The report described this inability as a "great tragedy" and "almost inconceivable" in modern aviation history.
"We just want to know where it is and what happened" – Jaquita Gonzales
This sentiment is echoed by many who seek closure and answers. In 2016, some relatives of the victims traveled to Madagascar to search for debris after pieces of the plane were found off the Tanzanian and Mozambican coasts.
The renewed search effort will cover an area of 15,000 square kilometers, according to Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Ocean Infinity, which previously conducted an unsuccessful search in 2018, is leading this new mission. The company's vessel was reported in the southern Indian Ocean as of February 23 by marine tracking website Marinetraffic.com.
Australia offered its support for the renewed search on March 8, 2024, marking the tenth anniversary of MH370's disappearance. This collaborative effort signifies a continued commitment to solving this enduring mystery and providing answers to those affected.