MH370 search back on after Ocean Infinity deal

The Malaysian government has done a deal with a US-based seabed survey company to renew the search for the missing plane.

The ATSB search planning map, showing two underwater search areas, and the wide search area in grey.

The hunt for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is back on, Transport Minister Darren Chester has announced.

Mr Chester issued a statement saying the Malaysian government is “entering into an agreement with Ocean Infinity” to renew the search for the Boeing 777, which disappeared on a scheduled flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board.

Darren Chester. Picture: AAP

Ocean Infinity, a US-based seabed survey company which reportedly has highly advanced underwater scanning equipment that can cover large areas quickly, had put a proposal to the Malaysian government some months ago.

“The Malaysian government has accepted an offer from Ocean Infinity to search for the missing plane, entering into a ‘no find no fee’ arrangement,” Mr Chester said in his statement.

“Malaysia’s decision to proceed with the search shows the commitment to find MH370.”

Australia, at Malaysia’s request, will provide technical assistance to the Malaysian government and Ocean Infinity, Mr Chester said.

Primary radar and satellite tracking determined that MH370 reversed course back over Malaysia about 40 minutes into the flight, with its secondary radar transponder turned off and no radio communication, before turning on a long track south to the southern Indian Ocean.

A $200 million underwater search for the aircraft led by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau ended in January after finding no trace of the aircraft.

At that point, the ATSB said it had identified a new search area just to the north of that already scoured which had a high likelihood of being the site where MH370 came down.

But the three governments involved in the search, Malaysia, China and Australia, had decided no search would be resumed without new information identifying the precise location of the aircraft.

Mr Chester said the renewed search by Ocean Infinity would focus on this new target area identified by the ATSB.

“No new information has been discovered to determine the specific location of the aircraft, however data collected during the previous search will be provided,” he said.

“While I am hopeful of a successful search, I’m conscious of not raising hopes for the loved ones of those on board.”

A Royal New Zealand Airforce pilot taking part in the search for MH370 in April 2014. Picture: AFP