Malaysia to Resume Search for Flight MH370 10 Years After It Disappeared: 'Our Responsibility'

Mar. 15, 2025

Getty

The Malaysian government has agreed in principle to resume the search for flightMalaysia Airlines 370, which disappeared more than 10 years ago.Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced on Friday, Dec. 20, that the government agreed to a $70 million deal with Ocean Infinity, a United States-based marine exploration firm to resume the search for MH370, according toCNNandBBC News.The Boeing 777 wascarrying 239 peoplewhen it vanished while traveling from Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.“Our responsibility and obligation and commitment is to the next of kin,” Loke said at a press conference,Reutersreported. “We hope this time will be positive, that the wreckage will be found and give closure to the families.“Ocean Infinity approached the Malaysian government aboutresuming the searchfor the missing plane in early 2024, CNN previously reported.In March, Loke said officials would “do everything possible to solve this mystery once and for all.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Malaysian government and Ocean Infinity are still working to finalize their “no find, no fee” deal with Ocean Infinity, meaning the firm will not get paid unless the wreck is found, according to BBC News.Ocean Infinity reportedly operated under a similar contract while searching for the missing plane in 2018.CEO Oliver Plunkett previously toldABC Newsin a statement that finding MH370 “has been a constant in our minds since we left the southern Indian Ocean in 2018.”Since then, Plunkett added, “We have focused on driving the transformation of operations at sea; innovating with technology and robotics to further advance our ocean search capabilities.“He continued, “This search is arguably the most challenging, and indeed pertinent one out there. We’ve been working with many experts, some outside of Ocean Infinity, to continue analyzing the data in the hope of narrowing the search area down to one in which success becomes potentially achievable.”

The Malaysian government has agreed in principle to resume the search for flightMalaysia Airlines 370, which disappeared more than 10 years ago.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced on Friday, Dec. 20, that the government agreed to a $70 million deal with Ocean Infinity, a United States-based marine exploration firm to resume the search for MH370, according toCNNandBBC News.

The Boeing 777 wascarrying 239 peoplewhen it vanished while traveling from Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.

“Our responsibility and obligation and commitment is to the next of kin,” Loke said at a press conference,Reutersreported. “We hope this time will be positive, that the wreckage will be found and give closure to the families.”

Ocean Infinity approached the Malaysian government aboutresuming the searchfor the missing plane in early 2024, CNN previously reported.

In March, Loke said officials would “do everything possible to solve this mystery once and for all.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Malaysian government and Ocean Infinity are still working to finalize their “no find, no fee” deal with Ocean Infinity, meaning the firm will not get paid unless the wreck is found, according to BBC News.

Ocean Infinity reportedly operated under a similar contract while searching for the missing plane in 2018.

CEO Oliver Plunkett previously toldABC Newsin a statement that finding MH370 “has been a constant in our minds since we left the southern Indian Ocean in 2018.”

Since then, Plunkett added, “We have focused on driving the transformation of operations at sea; innovating with technology and robotics to further advance our ocean search capabilities.”

He continued, “This search is arguably the most challenging, and indeed pertinent one out there. We’ve been working with many experts, some outside of Ocean Infinity, to continue analyzing the data in the hope of narrowing the search area down to one in which success becomes potentially achievable.”

source: people.com