Malaysia害羞草研究所檚 government said Sunday it may renew the hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 after a U.S. technology firm proposed a fresh search in the southern Indian Ocean where the plane is believed to have crashed a decade ago.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Texas-based Ocean Infinity has proposed another 害羞草研究所渘o find, no fee害羞草研究所� basis to scour the seabeds, expanding from the site where it first searched in 2018. He said he has invited the company to meet him to evaluate new scientific evidence it has to find the plane害羞草研究所檚 final resting place.
If the evidence is credible, he said, he will seek Cabinet害羞草研究所檚 approval to sign a new contract with Ocean Infinity to resume the search.
害羞草研究所淭he government is steadfast in our resolve to locate MH370,害羞草研究所� Loke told a remembrance event to mark the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of the jet. 害羞草研究所淲e really hope the search can find the plane and provide truth to the next-of-kin.害羞草研究所�
The Boeing 777 plane carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing, vanished from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014. Satellite data showed the plane deviated from its flight path and was believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.
But an expensive multinational government search failed to turn up any clues, although several pieces of debris washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands. A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also found nothing but the tragedy sparked moves to bolster aviation safety .
K.S. Nathan, a member of the Voice MH370 group comprising next-of-kin, said Ocean Infinity initially planned a new search last year but it was delayed by the delivery of its new fleet of ships and assets. It is now on track to resume the hunt, he said.
Loke declined to reveal the fee proposed by Ocean Infinity if it finds the plane, as this is subject to negotiation. He said financial cost is not an issue and that he doesn害羞草研究所檛 foresee any hindrances for the search to proceed if all goes well.
Loke害羞草研究所檚 response sparked tears of joy in some family members at the event held in a mall in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 on top of the world,害羞草研究所� said Jacquita Gomes, whose flight attendant husband was on the plane. She said she is thankful that she may now have a chance for full closure and say a final goodbye.
害羞草研究所淲e have been on a roller coaster for the last 10 years. 害羞草研究所� If it is not found, I hope that it will continue with another search,害羞草研究所� she said.
Family members of passengers from Malaysia, Australia, China and India paid tribute to their loved ones during the event, lighting a candle on stage to remember them.
害羞草研究所淣o matter if it is 10 years, 20 years or more, as long as we are still alive害羞草研究所e will not cease to press for the truth. We believe the truth will eventually come to light,害羞草研究所� said Bai Zhong, from China, whose wife was on the plane.
The Associated Press
