Flight MH370, carrying 239 people, quickly became the greatest mystery in aviation history when it vanished on its way from Kuala Lumpar to Beijing on March 8, 2014. In January 2017, Malaysia, China and Australia, called off a two-year A$200million underwater search in the Indian Ocean after finding no trace of the plane. US exploration firm Ocean Infinity then led a second three-month search, but also didn't find the aircraft.
If there are any credible leads or specific proposals, we are more than willing to look at them and we are prepared to discuss with them the new proposals
Anthony Loke
But Malaysia’s transport minister Anthony Loke has offered fresh hope of a new search for MH370, saying the country will consider any credible leads being put forward.
Malaysia was prepared to reward firms searching for the stricken aircraft under a “no-cure, no fee” agreement, meaning payment would only be made if they located the plane.
The government had offered Ocean Infinity up to $70million under such a deal doe its search last year.
Mr Loke told reporters at a Kuala Lumpar event marking the fifth year of MH370’s disappearance: “If there are any credible leads or specific proposals, we are more than willing to look at them and we are prepared to discuss with them the new proposals.”
MH370: A debris wing flap part believed to be from the missing plane was put on public display (Image: GETTY)
The transport minister said Ocean Infinity had expressed interest in conducting its second search with new technology developed over the past 12 months, but has yet to put forward a fresh proposal.
He added: "If they can convince us that the new technology can be more efficient in terms of the search, then we are more than willing to restart.”
More than 30 pieces of debris thought to be from MH370 have washed up along the Indian Ocean coastline, but just three have so far being confirmed to be from the plane.
At the event on Sunday, two of those pieces were put on display, marking the first time such fragments have been open for public view since MH370’s disappearance.
The parts are currently in the custody of the Malaysian government
