Over ten years since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared, its exact location remains a mystery. The Malaysian government has hired a company called Ocean Infinity to conduct a search for the plane. They are offering $70 million on a “no find, no fee” basis, which means they only get paid if they find the aircraft.
Ocean Infinity plans to search a 15,000 sq km area in the Indian Ocean, which is believed to have the best chance of yielding results.
What happened to Flight MH370?
Flight MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur at 1 AM on March 8, 2014. It was headed for Beijing with 12 crew members and 227 passengers. Just over an hour later, at 2:22 AM, the flight changed direction and vanished from radar over the Andaman Sea. Despite this, satellites continued to receive hourly signals until around 8 AM, indicating the plane was still in the air. These signals have created a vast search area of around 120,000 sq km in the southern Indian Ocean.
Simon Maskell, a professor at Liverpool University, highlights the challenge: “It’s a monstrously big circle.” Although some debris has washed ashore, no human remains have been found, and all onboard are presumed dead.
Who is Ocean Infinity?
Ocean Infinity is a UK and US-based marine robotics company. They focus on locating hard-to-find items on the ocean floor. In 2022, they helped find Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, Endurance. Previously, they attempted to search for MH370 in 2018 but could not find it. Now, they are determined to give it another go.
What Technology Are They Using?
Ocean Infinity employs Hugin 6000 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for their search. These robots can dive up to 6,000 meters and create detailed 3D maps of the ocean floor using sonar and laser technology. Each AUV is worth around $8 million. They operate independently for up to 100 hours.
Richard Godfrey, an aviation investigator, explains how the AUVs are designed to detect metal even when buried under sediment. If something noteworthy is discovered, the AUV can notify the surface ship. This ship can then deploy remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) to further investigate and photograph any findings.
Search Area and Goals
The search area is vast, covering around 15,000 sq km. Ocean Infinity began their quest in February but paused after 22 days due to bad weather. They plan to resume in December for another 55 days. Godfrey mentions that they’ve already covered about 10,000 sq km, but there’s still a long way to go, and they are investing heavily in this mission.
The Challenges Ahead
Searching the ocean floor is no easy task. Maskell points out that the terrain is complicated—there are mountains and deep canyons. Godfrey adds that the area is challenging due to incomplete prior surveys, making it tough to pinpoint locations. The crew will face rough seas, and maintaining their equipment while dealing with large waves is a constant struggle.
The real challenge may be determining where to search since advanced technology will not help if they are looking in the wrong place. Both Maskell and Godfrey agree that choosing the right spot for the search is crucial to finding the aircraft.
As this search continues, the world remains curious to see if it will finally lead to answers regarding the mysterious disappearance of Flight MH370.
