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Malaysia approves new 'no-find-no-fee' MH370 search by Ocean Infinity

Malaysia approves new 'no-find-no-fee' MH370 search by Ocean Infinity
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The Malaysian government has accepted a proposal from marine company Ocean Infinity to renew the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which vanished over ten years ago. The flight disappeared after leaving Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. Despite numerous search efforts, the main wreckage remains undiscovered, although some components have been found washed ashore.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that Malaysia has agreed in principle to Ocean Infinity's second proposal to search for the missing Boeing 777 in the Southern Indian Ocean. Ocean Infinity was previously involved in a search in 2018 but did not find the aircraft's main wreckage.

Ocean Infinity's latest proposal operates on a "no-find, no-fee" basis, meaning payment of $70 million is contingent upon finding the wreckage. Loke stated, "The Cabinet has agreed in principle to accept Ocean Infinity’s proposal to resume the search for MH370’s wreckage in a new search area estimated at 15,000km (9,320 miles) per square based on the no-find-no-fee principle. This means the government will not have to pay unless the wreckage is found."

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Loke explained that this new search area is determined by recent expert data and analysis. Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Plunkett noted improvements in their technology since their last attempt and mentioned consultations with experts to pinpoint a likely crash site.

Negotiations are ongoing with Ocean Infinity regarding what constitutes finding "wreckage." A contract expected to conclude by early 2025 would last approximately 18 months, with January through April identified as optimal for searching.

Relatives of those onboard MH370 welcomed this development. Loke expressed hope that this new effort will provide "closure for the families of MH370 passengers." A Chinese court began compensation proceedings last year as most passengers were Chinese nationals.

Prevailing theories about MH370's disappearance include deliberate actions by Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah due to personal issues or an unintentional cabin depressurization event. Investigators believe manual interference altered the plane's course but require evidence from the wreckage for conclusive answers.

Past searches include a $150 million operation led by Australia's Transport Safety Bureau covering over 120,000 square kilometers without success and Ocean Infinity's initial 2018 effort spanning 112,000 square kilometers also yielding no results.

Organizations Included in this History
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