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The families of people who died on the missing MH370 flight have asked for permission to conduct another search for the aeroplane after a technology firm claimed to have new evidence regarding the plane’s disappearance.
The plane went down at an unknown location on March 8, 2014, with 227 passengers from various countries and 12 Malaysian crew members on board.
All of those on board have been presumed dead, but only bits of debris believed to have come from the plane have ever been found, creating one of the biggest mysteries in the world of aviation.
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There was a three year search for the aircraft organised by Malaysia, Australia, and China, but that finished in January 2017.
In the end, they did not reach any conclusion about what happened when the plane disappeared over the sea whilst flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
A second search for MH370 was conducted by Ocean Infinity, a marine robotics company from the USA, and although that search was also ultimately unsuccessful, they now want to go back as they claim to have new evidence that could help them locate the lost aeroplane.
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Voice370, a group that represents the relatives of those on board, have released a statement asking the Malaysian government to allow the search.
“While the next of kin of the passengers and crew on board attempt to rebuild our lives, the threat to global aviation safety remains a live issue,” their statement reads.
“As long as we remain in the dark about what happened to MH370, we will never be able to prevent a similar tragedy. Accordingly, we believe that it is a matter of paramount importance that the search for MH370 is carried out to its completion.”
Speaking to The Guardian, Ocean Infinity chief executive Oliver Plunkett said that they are ‘actively engaged’ in trying to get another search going.
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He said: “At this stage, we are unable to say definitively when a new search will take place as discussions are ongoing and there is still much work to be done,
“We are hopeful that our experienced team and marine robotics will be instructed later this year or in 2024.”
Plunkett’s company will approach the Malaysian government ‘in the coming weeks’ with their new evidence, although we aren’t sure exactly what this evidence is.
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The government has repeatedly maintained that they won’t be reopening the case unless there is significant new evidence as to the plane’s location.
Plunkett continued: “Over the past 12 months we had made real progress, working with many people to enhance our knowledge of the events in 2014, and ultimately improve our chances of conducting a successful search.”
“We will work hard and try our best to make it happen, subject to the support of the Malaysian government. I fully believe it is a realistic ambition.”
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He also said that the company would work on a ‘no find, no fee’ basis.
Malaysia’s transport minister Anthony Loke reiterated their stance, saying: “Since 2014 Malaysia and international partners have searched millions of square kilometres through air, ship and undersea operations.
“As transport minister, I will not summarily close the book on this tragedy.
“I reiterate, that government’s position that due consideration will be given to search operations should there be new and credible information on the aircraft’s final resting place.”
This comes after Netflix released a three-part docuseries titled MH370: The Plane That Disappeared, which is available to stream now.
Topics: World News, Travel
Tom Wood