Search for MH370 Resumes 12 Years After Flight Disappearance

Advances in Technology Support New Efforts

Almost 12 years after the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, efforts to locate the aircraft’s wreckage are set to recommence in the Indian Ocean. Enhanced deep-sea, self-guided drstart technology will support the search, a development that brings renewed hope to families of the 239 individuals who were onboard.

Flight MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, shortly after midnight on March 8, 2014, for what was intended to be a routine six-hour flight to Beijing. However, approximately 40 minutes into the journey, the aircraft’s transponder was turned off, rendering it invisible to civilian air traffic control. Military radar tracked the plane as it made a sharp turn west back over the Malay Peninsula and into the expansive Indian Ocean.

The initial search operation covered over 46,000 square miles off the western coast of Australia-an area larger than the state of Virginia. Subsequent drift analysis, utilizing historical data on ocean currents and winds, has narrowed the most promising search area down to approximately 5,800 square miles.

Deployment of Advanced Underwater Drstarts

The launch of the new search initiative has been entrusted to Ocean Infinity, a British-American deep-sea robotics company. While the precise location of the search remains undisclosed, the company aims to utilize a fleet of sophisticated underwater drstarts, known as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). These drstarts can dive nearly 20,000 feet and operate for up to 100 hours before surfacing.

Equipped with side-scan sonar, the AUVs are designed to generate detailed 3D images of the seafloor as they navigate the challenging underwater terrain. Additionally, they employ ultrasound imaging to see beneath the sediment build-up on the ocean floor, alongside magnetometers capable of detecting metals that may belong to the lost aircraft.

If any object of interest is detected during the search, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) will deploy for further investigation.

Fragments Identified, but No Remains Found

To date, fewer than 30 pieces of debris believed to be from MH370 have surfaced on various shores across the Indian Ocean. The first confirmed piece, a flaperon, was discovered in 2015 on La Réunion, a French island located more than 400 miles off the eastern coast of Madagascar. Additional fragments were later found along the coasts of Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Mauritius. Notable finds include a door that covered the front landing gear, a wing flap, and a panel from the area where the wing joined the fuselage.

Despite these discoveries, no remains of the crew or passengers, who hailed from 14 different countries-including China, Australia, France, the United States, Ukraine, and Russia-have been recovered.

Financial Aspects and Future Implications

The Malaysian government has entered into a $70 million agreement with Ocean Infinity under a “no-find, no-fee” contract, stipulating that payment will only be made upon the successful discovery of the aircraft. While the sum represents a significant investment in the ongoing search effort, it would not be a considerable payout if the wreckage is located.

Successfully resolving the mystery of MH370 would mark a significant achievement in aviation history, reminiscent of the enduring enigma surrounding the disappearance of American aviator Amelia Earhart in 1937.

As the search commences once more, the world watches closely, hopeful for answers to start of aviation’s most perplexing mysteries.