The Malaysian government formally agrees to another search for the MH370 crash

The Malaysian government has formally agreed to accept a second “no gain, no money” offer from an American company to recover the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean more than 10 years ago. Minister Anthony Loke said on Friday.

Loke said cabinet ministers gave the nod at their meeting last week for Texas-based marine company Ocean Infinity to continue sea search operations in a new 15,000 square kilometer area of ​​the ocean next year.

“The proposed new search area, identified by Ocean Infinity, is based on the latest information and data analysis by experts and researchers. This company’s proposal is reliable,” he said in a statement.

The Boeing 777 disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, most of them Chinese, on a flight from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing. Two Canadian citizens died in the accident.

Satellite data revealed that the plane veered off course and headed over the Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. An expensive international search has failed to find a trace, although debris has washed up on the east coast of Africa and on islands in the Indian Ocean.

A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also turned up nothing.

The company says the technology has improved since the last search

Under the new agreement, Ocean Infinity will receive $70 million US, but only if significant damage is found, Loke said.

He said his department will conclude negotiations with Ocean Infinity by early 2025.

The company has indicated that January-April is the best time to search, he said.

“This decision shows the government’s commitment to continuing the search and closure of the families of the MH370 passengers,” he added.

Earlier this year, Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Punkett was reported to have said that the company has improved its technology since 2018. He said the company works with many experts to analyze the data and narrow down the search area to the most likely target.