By Jheruleene Anne Ramos
Families of passengers and crew aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are hopeful that the latest search effort by Ocean Infinity will finally provide long-awaited answers.
Wan Amirul Haziq Wan Swaid, son of MH370’s senior flight steward Wan Swaid Wan Ismail, expressed optimism that the aircraft will be found, bringing closure and answers.
“I am grateful that the search for MH370 is continuing, with the hope that the aircraft will finally be discovered,” he said.
“I have accepted what happened because, without acceptance, it would be impossible to move forward,” he told Berita Harian, as quoted by The New Straits Times.
“Acceptance is not easy. I fully embrace it, but sometimes, we just want a proper ending,” he added.
Maizura Othaman, wife of flight steward Mohd Hazrin Mohamed Hasnan, echoed similar sentiments, saying she hopes the renewed search will end nearly 11 years of uncertainty and pain.
Experts confident in search success
Aviation expert Captain Nik Ahmad Huzlan Nik Hussain believes Malaysia’s latest search effort has a strong chance of success, citing Ocean Infinity’s advanced technology and refined data analysis.
“Ocean Infinity has meticulously analyzed assumed coordinates where MH370 might have ended, significantly reducing the search area from 120,000 square kilometres to just 15,000 square kilometres,” he explained.
He added that the firm would not invest approximately MYR45.07 million ($10 million) unless it had strong confidence in a successful outcome.
Ocean Infinity resumes search under ‘No Find, No Fee’ deal
Optimism surrounding the search grew after officials confirmed on February 25 that the United States and United Kingdom-based maritime exploration firm Ocean Infinity has resumed its search for the missing aircraft.
The renewed search is conducted under the so-called “no find, no fee” deal, which means that the Malaysian government will pay the firm MYR309 million ($70 million) if their hunt is successful.
According to reports, Ocean Infinity is using the search vessel Armada 78 06 and autonomous underwater vehicles to scan the seabed across a 15,000-square-kilometer area off the coast of Perth, Australia.
The aircraft’s final destination was believed to be in the Indian Ocean, based on debris found on Reunion Island.
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Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that the government approved the renewed search after Ocean Infinity convinced officials they were ready to proceed.
“They have convinced us that they are ready. That’s why the Malaysian government is proceeding with this,” Loke said.
This marks the firm’s second attempt after an unsuccessful search in 2018.
MH370 remains a mystery
Since the mysterious disappearance of MH370, the government has reportedly spent at least MYR456 million ($102 million) on previous search operations involving Malaysia, Australia and China.
The aircraft, carrying 239 passengers and crew, vanished on March 8 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
With the new search underway, hope remains that one of aviation’s greatest mysteries may finally be solved.
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Ren Azrack Escosio 
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