Malaysia’s transport minister announced an agreement with an undersea exploration company to restart the search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared in 2014 with 227 passengers and 12 crew members.
The search, set in a 5,790-square-mile area of the southern Indian Ocean, will follow a “no find, no fee” model. If wreckage is found, Ocean Infinity will receive $70 million. The search contract, estimated to last 18 months, marks Ocean Infinity’s second attempt after a failed one in 2018.
Despite advanced search technology, experts warn that the harsh conditions of the Indian Ocean could turn the search catastrophic quickly, with waves as high as 20 meters.
The area has been selected based on satellite data, flight parameters, and where airplane parts have washed ashore. There are concerns about the reliability of tracking methods used in the search, with some experts skeptical about their effectiveness. The jurisdiction over discovered wreckage remains uncertain.