The latest search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane by a marine robotics company has come to an abrupt halt due to seasonal conditions as heartbroken families grapple with grief a decade on.
Malaysia’s transport minister, Anthony Loke, announced a temporary halt to the search telling AFP: “They have stopped the operation for the time being, they will resume the search at the end of this year.” He made it clear that the time of year made the search impossible, although the exact reason this seasonal change has thrown off the search was not made obvious. He added: “Right now, it’s not the season.”
The Boeing 777, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, known as Flight MH370, disappeared with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing March 8, 2014, sparking one of the most baffling mysteries in aviation history. It also remains the deadliest single case of an aircraft disappearance. This pause comes shortly after officials had announced the resumption of the search, following previous extensive but fruitless efforts across the Indian Ocean.
Last month, on the 11th anniversary of the flight’s disappearance, family of the Chinese passengers congregated outside government buildings and the Malaysian embassy in Beijing. Those present at the vigil demanded, “Give us back our loved ones!”. Other devastated families held banners posing the heart-rending question, “When will the 11 years of waiting and torment end?”.
An initial search led by Australia spanned 120,000sq km (46,300sq miles) over three years, yielding little more than a few fragments of debris. Ocean Infinity, a maritime exploration company from the UK and US, undertook an unsuccessful quest in 2018 and agreed to another attempt this year. The firm’s latest mission operated under a “no find, no fee” arrangement, with the Malaysian government agreeing to pay only if the aircraft is located.
Loke remained cautious about the outcome, stating in early April: “Whether or not it will be found will be subject to the search, nobody can anticipate,” referring to the plane’s remains.
The disappearance of MH370 has sparked a myriad of theories, from the plausible to the absurd – including speculation that seasoned pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah hijacked the aircraft. None of these have been proven, but thecause remains unknown.
However, one conclusive report published in 2018 highlighted lapses by air traffic control and confirmed that the flight path was altered by hand. Despite the detailed 495-page investigation, authorities still have no clear explanation for the disappearance and could not discount the possibility that someone apart from the pilots re-routed the plane.
Families of those aboard the ill-fated MH370 have persisted in their pursuit for clarity from Malaysian officials. Chinese nationals made up two-thirds of the passengers, with others hailing from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and various countries.
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