Australia Offers Support to Malaysia for Renewed MH370 Search on 10th Anniversary
Last Updated on March 8, 2024 8:18 am
On the 10-year anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, Australia has extended its support to the Malaysian government for a renewed search effort to locate the wreckage.
Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, and Transport Minister, Catherine King, expressed their “sincere sympathies” in a joint statement released on Friday. The ministers acknowledged the ongoing pain and grief of the families affected by the tragedy, emphasizing the lack of closure despite a decade of coordinated search efforts.
Australia played a significant role in the initial search operations, coordinating one of the most extensive searches in history. The ministers highlighted that despite scouring over 3 million square kilometers above water and more than 120,000 square kilometers below water, the missing aircraft was not located.
In their statement, the ministers affirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting practical efforts to find MH370. They stated, “Australia stands ready to assist the Malaysian Government if it considers that Australian agencies are able to offer technical information as a result of their involvement in previous searches.”
The Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 vanished from radar 40 minutes after departing Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8, 2014, with 12 crew members and 227 passengers, including seven Australians, on board. The aircraft’s fate remains unknown.
Recent reports indicate that the Malaysian government is in discussions with the US marine robotics company Ocean Infinity for a potential new search. Ocean Infinity has expressed its willingness to return to the search efforts and has submitted a proposal to the Malaysian government.
The initial search efforts by Malaysia covered the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca. However, satellite-recorded electronic signals suggested that the plane changed course, ultimately leading to a search in the Indian Ocean between Western Australia and Antarctica.
Australia took charge of the underwater search from May 2014 to early 2017, involving contributions from the Australian Defence Force, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and the CSIRO. The announcement from Australia signals its ongoing commitment to assist in any feasible way to provide answers and closure to the families affected by the MH370 tragedy.