SEPANG: The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is set to resume at end of the year following the government’s agreement with marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He noted that the current weather conditions are unsuitable for search operations, prompting a temporary pause until conditions improve.
“I don’t think it’s the right season now. I believe they have paused operations for the time being and will resume the search at the end of this year,” he told reporters at a press conference after welcoming British Airways’ first flight to Malaysia in five years at KLIA on Wednesday.
Loke also confirmed that the government had signed an agreement last week with Ocean Infinity to resume the search for MH370.
“Yes, the agreement was signed last week,” he said.
His remarks follow an announcement by the Association for Families of the Passengers and Crew, which stated that the search for MH370 has been delayed until next summer in the Southern Hemisphere due to adverse weather conditions and Ocean Infinity’s prior commitments.
Earlier reports indicated that the government had approved the terms of the service agreement with Ocean Infinity on a “no find, no fee” basis.
Under this arrangement, Malaysia will only pay the company if the wreckage is found, with a success fee of up to US$70mil.
Ocean Infinity previously participated in the search for MH370 between January and May 2018, covering more than 112,000sq km of the southern Indian Ocean seabed before ending the mission.
Flight MH370 vanished on March 8, 2014 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying 239 passengers and crew.
Despite extensive search efforts, its disappearance remains one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.
