Families of those on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished mysteriously nine years ago, urged the Malaysian government to permit American seabed exploration company Ocean Infinity to launch a new search for the missing aircraft, Reuters reported.
On March 8, 2014, while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 completely vanished, cementing its place as one of the greatest aviation mysteries in history.
Malaysia hired Ocean Infinity to look for the plane in the southern Indian Ocean in 2018, promising to pay up to $70 million if it was discovered. However, their investigation was unsuccessful.
On Sunday, Voice370, an advocacy group made up of the relatives of those who had been onboard the plane, said Ocean Infinity hoped to start a new search as soon as this summer and urged the Malaysian government to accept any proposals from the firm on a conditional fee basis, meaning the firm would only be paid if the search was successful.
“Ocean Infinity, over the last 12 months have made real progress working with many people to further understand… the events in 2014,” Voice370 said in a statement, following a memorial event to mark the ninth year since MH370’s disappearance.
“Ultimately, this has greatly improved their chances of conducting a successful search.”
Yesterday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the tragedy will not be easily forgotten.
“As Transport Minister, I will not summarily close the book on this tragedy.
“I reiterate the Government of Malaysia’s position that due consideration will be given to future search operations should there be new and credible information on the potential location of the aircraft’s final resting place,” he said in a tweet on Sunday (March 5).
“To the families of the 239 passengers and crew members on board the lost aircraft, no amount of sympathy can erase the grief and heartache of losing your loved ones.
“Malaysians will always stand by you and share the weight of this tribulation together. We honor the lives lost and will not forget them,” he said.
Loke went on to say that he was “painfully aware of the desire for closure,” and that Malaysia and its international partners had searched millions of square kilometers since 2014.
Meanwhile, TV shows and movies have also been produced based on the story of MH370.
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