The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board remains one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries. Satellite data analysis suggests the plane likely crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of western Australia.
Here are the key facts about the search and investigation:
The last transmission from MH370 was made by Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah 40 minutes after takeoff, but its transponder was turned off shortly thereafter. The plane deviated from its flight path and lost contact over northern Malaysia and the Andaman Sea.
Malaysia, Australia, and China launched an underwater search in a 120,000 sq km area in the southern Indian Ocean, which cost around $143 million. However, no wreckage was found after two years.
In 2018, a new search was conducted by US firm Ocean Infinity for three months, covering 112,000 sq km north of the original target area. Again, no signs of MH370 were detected.
A report released in July 2018 suggested that the plane’s controls may have been deliberately manipulated to take it off course, but investigators could not determine who was responsible.
Despite numerous searches and analysis, the cause of MH370’s disappearance remains unknown. Conspiracy theories abound, with some experts suggesting an experienced pilot took control of the plane. However, investigations found no suspicious background or circumstances.
In December 2022, Malaysia agreed to resume the search for the wreckage, with a new proposal from Ocean Infinity offering $70 million in rewards if significant wreckage is found. The new search area would expand by 15,000 sq km and cover 18 months.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/what-we-know-about-malaysias-missing-mh370-plane-11-years-2025-02-26