Efforts are underway to unravel one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries as a new deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 commences in the Indian Ocean. The Armada 86 05 has reached the designated search zone with two autonomous underwater vehicles to resume the search for the passenger plane that disappeared with 239 individuals on board over a decade ago.
Malaysia’s Transport Ministry has not disclosed the exact location of the search in its recent announcement. The search vessel was prepared at Fremantle Port in Western Australia before embarking on the mission.
Although not explicitly naming Ocean Infinity, the Malaysian government’s identified search vessel is linked to the Texas-based marine robotics firm, as reported by maritime and aviation sources. Ocean Infinity, known for its previous search efforts, was anticipated to lead this new phase of the search operation.
Ocean Infinity has refrained from providing detailed comments on the ongoing search, citing the sensitive nature of the operation. Under a “no-find, no-fee” agreement, the company had previously scoured targeted areas of the seabed in 2018 without success.
Earlier this year, Ocean Infinity resumed seabed search operations in a new 5,800-square-mile area of the southern Indian Ocean following government approval. However, the search was halted in April due to adverse weather conditions.
The Boeing 777 vanished from radar screens 39 minutes after departing Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8, 2014. The pilot’s final communication with Kuala Lumpur was “Good night, Malaysian Three Seven Zero,” after which the aircraft veered off course over the Andaman Sea and ultimately crashed into a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean after hours of flight.
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