Last-ditch search for ‘justice’ along with missing MH370

There has been a major update in the desperate search for the MH370 plane that vanished more than a decade ago.

The Malaysian government has approved a last-ditch effort to find the remains of the MH370 flight, which disappeared after crashing into the ocean in 2014.

It’s been more than 10 years since the mystery of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, which was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and carrying 239 people, including 227 passengers, six of which were Australian citizens plus one New Zealand resident who was based in Perth.

MH370 disappeared while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Picture: News

Less than an hour after takeoff, radars showed the plane vanished after it strayed from its original path and lost contact with the air traffic control team.

“I’m not going to speculate about the location of this aircraft... What we hope is that it can be found and that there can be some closure for those who lost loved ones and for whom the lack of resolution here is a continued source of pain,” Australian foreign minister Penny Wong told Sky News.

Ms Wong said the efforts to find MH370 had spanned “a lot of years (with) a lot of experts involved”.

Several searches have been established for the missing aircraft, in conjunction with Australia, China, the US, the UK and several other countries; but no findings were produced.

It’s been 10 years since MH370 vanished off its flight path and lost contact with the air traffic control team. Photo by Arif Kartono / AFP

“We have been part of the engagement on the search for MH370 for a very long time. We’ll continue to engage as Malaysia requires,” Ms Wong said.

In 2018, marine robotics company Ocean Infinity launched two searches for the missing aircraft, but both were called off after a few months.

On Wednesday, the Malaysian government approved the terms and conditions for Ocean Infinity to conduct a final search for the missing aircraft in a new 15,000km stretch of the Southern Indian Ocean.

US marine robotics company Ocean Infinity will search again for MH370. Picture: 60Minutes

Minister for Transport Loke Siew Fook said the government was “committed to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of MH370 passengers”.

The last-ditch effort to find the remains of the plane are based on a “no find, no fee” principle.

“This is a tragedy, and it was a tragedy that so many families still carry with them. So we continue to look for justice and resolution for those who lost their loved ones on that flight,” Ms Wong said.

The Malaysian government approved the request for the last-ditch search last December. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP)

If the wreckage is found, the marine robotics company would receive $A110m.

Reports of a new search began circulating in November 2024 after Ocean Infinity made the request for a final search of the Indian Ocean.

The request was approved in December 2024, the Malaysian government confirmed.

“We hope this time will be positive,” Mr Loke said in December, per the BBC.

The search will be the last chance for families of the passengers and crew on the flight to find closure.