Ten years ago, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished into thin air with 239 people on board, creating one of the most perplexing mysteries in aviation history. The Boeing 777 disappeared on March 8, 2014, during its journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Analysis of satellite data suggested that the plane probably went down in the southern Indian Ocean, near the western coast of Australia. Despite two extensive searches, no significant findings emerged. Here’s a breakdown of the search efforts and the lingering questions surrounding MH370:
What We Know
The plane’s last communication occurred approximately 40 minutes after departing Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah bid “Good night, Malaysian three seven zero” as the aircraft entered Vietnamese airspace. Shortly after, the transponder was turned off, making tracking difficult.
Military radar revealed that the plane deviated from its course, flying back over northern Malaysia and Penang island before heading into the Andaman Sea toward the tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The aircraft then turned south, and all contact was lost.
Underwater Searches
Malaysia, Australia, and China initiated an underwater search covering a vast 120,000 sq km area in the southern Indian Ocean. This search, costing around A$200 million ($143 million), concluded in January 2017 with no findings.
In 2018, Malaysia agreed to a deal with the U.S. exploration company Ocean Infinity, where they would only be compensated if they successfully found the missing plane during the three-month search. This effort, covering 112,000 sq km north of the original area, yielded no results and ended in May 2018.
Debris
Over 30 pieces of suspected aircraft debris were discovered along the coast of Africa and on Indian Ocean islands. Yet, confirmation was only achieved for three wing fragments, verifying their connection to MH370. Most debris was utilized in drift pattern analysis to narrow down the possible location of the aircraft.
Investigation Report
A comprehensive 495-page report published in July 2018 suggested that the Boeing 777’s controls were likely deliberately manipulated, but the responsible party could not be identified. The report also highlighted errors by air traffic control centers in Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City, issuing recommendations to prevent similar incidents.
Without locating the wreckage, investigators refrained from drawing conclusions about MH370’s fate.
Conspiracy Theories
The inability to find the crash site fueled various conspiracy theories, ranging from mechanical failure and remote-controlled crashes to alien abduction and Russian plots. Some experts suggested the likelihood that an experienced pilot deliberately diverted the plane off course, though investigators found nothing suspicious in the backgrounds of the captain and co-pilot.
New Search
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently expressed the government’s willingness to reopen the investigation if a compelling case arises. Transport Minister Anthony Loke brought up the idea of inviting the U.S. seabed exploration company Ocean Infinity to talk about a fresh search proposal. Malaysia plans to collaborate with Australia upon approval of Ocean Infinity’s proposal by Malaysia’s cabinet. The search for answers continues a decade after MH370’s disappearance.
