Malaysia agrees to resume ‘no find, no fee’ hunt for Flight MH370 — 10 years after plane disappeared

After a decade of uncertainty, Malaysia has agreed to resume the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 under a “no find, no fee” arrangement. The announcement, made by the Malaysian government in collaboration with the Australian authorities, marks a renewed commitment to solving one of the most perplexing mysteries in aviation history. The flight, which disappeared on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board, has captured global attention and sparked numerous theories, investigations, and unsuccessful searches over the past ten years.

This new search agreement signals a significant shift in the search efforts after years of limited progress. The deal, which includes the promise to pay the contracted search company only if the wreckage is found, is seen as a strategic move to restart the hunt for Flight MH370, which vanished somewhere over the southern Indian Ocean, thousands of miles from its scheduled route between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing. Despite several major search operations conducted by international teams, no trace of the aircraft was discovered for years, leaving families of the passengers, as well as the broader international community, in a state of emotional and psychological turmoil.

The resumption of the search is being led by Ocean Infinity, a private US-based exploration firm, which previously conducted a similar search in 2018 under a “no find, no fee” contract. Ocean Infinity’s technology, including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with sonar systems, allows for more extensive and efficient searching of the vast and deep ocean floor. Under this new deal, Ocean Infinity will be tasked with scanning a broader area in an attempt to locate the wreckage of the Boeing 777.

For the families of the passengers who were on board, this renewed search represents a final hope for closure after years of frustration. Many relatives of the victims have long called for the search to continue, criticizing the original search efforts as insufficient and poorly coordinated. While the first few years after the disappearance saw large-scale operations coordinated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), progress was slow, and in 2017, the search was officially suspended. This left many with more questions than answers and fueled speculation about what truly happened to Flight MH370.

The new search area, covering a much larger portion of the southern Indian Ocean, is based on new data and refined analysis of the available evidence. Although no definitive theory has emerged regarding the fate of the plane, investigators believe that understanding the final movements of MH370 is critical for aviation safety. The disappearance of the plane has raised serious questions about the monitoring of commercial aircraft and the technology available for tracking planes over remote areas. The search aims to fill in the gaps and piece together the final moments of the flight, providing insights into a tragedy that has puzzled aviation experts for years.

Despite the persistence of several theories, including hijacking, mechanical failure, and pilot involvement, the exact cause of the crash remains unknown. In 2018, the Australian government released a report suggesting that MH370 likely crashed into the Indian Ocean in a remote area, based on satellite data indicating the plane’s last known position. However, no wreckage or bodies were found at that time, and the search was eventually suspended due to a lack of new evidence and the vast, inhospitable nature of the search area.

The decision to resume the search has been met with mixed reactions. Some relatives of the passengers have expressed cautious optimism, hoping that this new search will lead to answers. Others, however, remain skeptical, pointing out that the previous search efforts have already covered large portions of the Indian Ocean without success. Nonetheless, the resumption of the search is seen as a commitment to exhaust all possible avenues in the effort to uncover the truth about the fate of Flight MH370.

The “no find, no fee” arrangement is also noteworthy because it reduces the financial risks for the Malaysian government and the other countries involved. This arrangement means that the private contractor, Ocean Infinity, will bear the cost of the search, and only receive payment if the wreckage is found. This model has been seen as a more efficient and cost-effective approach to handling the massive expense involved in searching for an aircraft in such a vast and difficult environment. The previous search, which involved multiple countries and agencies, cost hundreds of millions of dollars and covered more than 120,000 square kilometers of ocean floor. With the new search, Ocean Infinity will again deploy cutting-edge technology, including deep-sea robots, to locate the wreckage.

The resumption of the search also underscores the importance of ensuring accountability and transparency in international investigations. The disappearance of Flight MH370 prompted calls for reform in aviation safety and tracking systems, especially in how flights are monitored when they leave radar coverage, such as over the vast oceans. The incident highlighted significant gaps in global aviation protocols, which are still being addressed by various international aviation bodies.

As the search resumes, hopes remain high that the wreckage will finally be discovered, bringing some closure to the families who have waited for a decade without answers. For many, the decision to continue the search for Flight MH370 is a sign that the world will not give up on uncovering the truth. While the mystery of MH370 may never be fully resolved, the renewed search effort offers a glimmer of hope that one day, the story of what happened to the missing flight may finally be told.

In conclusion, Malaysia’s agreement to restart the search for Flight MH370 under a “no find, no fee” contract with Ocean Infinity represents a renewed commitment to uncovering the truth behind one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. Ten years after the plane’s disappearance, this renewed effort brings hope to the families of the victims and underscores the importance of global cooperation in solving the case. While the challenges of the search remain immense, this new chapter in the hunt for MH370 offers a potential path to closure and answers.