MH370: The Ocean Infinity Search Restart
Malaysia has agreed in principle to resume the search for MH370 with Ocean Infinity, focusing on a new 15,000 km² area in the southern Indian Ocean, based on fresh data and technology advances since 2018.
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 remains one of aviation’s greatest mysteries. Ten years after the Boeing 777 vanished with 239 people aboard while flying from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing, China, a new chapter in the search effort is about to begin.
Ocean Infinity, the U.S.-based marine robotics company that previously led an unsuccessful search in 2018, has proposed a new “no cure, no fee” mission. Under the proposed agreement, the company would only receive payment - a reward of $70 million - if it finds substantial aircraft debris.
The renewed search will utilize significant technological advances developed since the last attempt. Ocean Infinity plans to deploy its latest autonomous underwater vehicles to scan a refined 15,000 square kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean, identified through new data analysis and drift modeling of previously discovered debris.
The decision to resume the search was influenced by compelling new evidence from various sources. British aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey’s analysis using Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) technology has helped narrow down the likely crash location. Additionally, work by researchers at the University of Liverpool, led by Professor Simon Maskell, has provided fresh perspectives on the flight’s final trajectory.
The historical context of the disappearance remains crucial. Military radar data shows the aircraft made an unexpected turn after its last voice contact, climbing to 40,000 feet - near its operational ceiling. The timing of certain satellite communications and the deliberate nature of some maneuvers have led investigators to believe the plane was under conscious control until its final moments.
The Malaysian Minister of Transport emphasized that the new search operation will commence in early 2025, pending final agreement terms. The 18-month contract will require approval from Malaysia’s Attorney General’s office before signing. This latest effort represents not just a technical mission, but a renewed commitment to providing answers for the families who have waited a decade for closure.
The Ocean Infinity team will face significant challenges. The search area includes underwater volcanoes and ridges at depths of up to 4,000 meters. However, advances in autonomous underwater vehicle technology and data analysis capabilities offer new hope for success where previous attempts have failed.
For the families of those lost on MH370, the restart of the search brings mixed emotions - hope tempered by years of disappointment. Yet the combination of new technology, refined search areas, and a results-based contract model may finally help solve one of modern aviation’s most enduring mysteries.