The Malaysian government agrees in principle to a renewed search for MH370 aircraft wreckage

Malaysia’s government has agreed in principle to accept a second “no find, no fee” proposal from a U.S. company to continue the hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean more than a decade ago, according to reports Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Friday.

Loke said Cabinet ministers at their meeting last week approved Texas-based marine robotics company Ocean Infinity to continue searching the seabed at a new 15,000 square kilometer site in the ocean next year.

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

The Boeing 777 plane disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, on a flight from Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Two Canadian citizens were killed in the crash.

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Satellite data showed the plane deviated from its flight path and flew over the southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. A costly multinational search turned up no evidence, although debris washed up on the East African coast and on islands in the Indian Ocean.

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

The company says technology has improved since the last search

Under the new contract, Ocean Infinity will receive $70 million, but only if significant wreckage is discovered, Loke said.

He said his ministry would complete negotiations with Ocean Infinity in early 2025.

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

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

Earlier this year, Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Punkett reportedly said the company had improved its technology since 2018. He said the company works with many experts to analyze data and narrow the search scope to the most likely location.