Finally, everyone has given up on trying to solve probably the greatest mystery of the 21st century i.e. searching for the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 which disappeared over the Indian Ocean. According to Australian, Chinese and Malaysian officials, they have finally closed the search mission for the plane after almost three years of searching.
The announcement of the closure of search was made on Tuesday, 2 pm Malaysia time, by the MH370 Tripartite Joint Communique, with the mutual consent of the transport ministers from Malaysia, China, and Australia, who represented the three countries involved in the incident.
“Today the last search vessel has left the underwater search area. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has not been located in the 120,000 square-kilometer underwater search area in the southern Indian Ocean,” the statement read.
They notified the next of kin of the unfortunate MH370 aircraft via an email on 17th January. The email stated that the Australian Authorities had ended the search mission with regrettably no success.
“Today’s announcement is significant for our three countries, but more importantly for the family and friends of those on board the aircraft. We again take this opportunity to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives and acknowledge the enormous loss felt by their loved ones.”said the statement.
The fateful Malaysian flight disappeared into thin air on 8 March 2014, after it took off from Kuala Lumpur and was on its way to Beijing. The plane was carrying about 239 passengers and crew, including 152 Chinese and 50 Malaysians.
The announcement stated,
“despite every effort using the best science available, cutting edge technology, as well as modeling and advice from highly skilled professionals who are the best in their field, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft.”
According to the Tripartite’s statement,
“combined scientific studies have continued to refine areas of probability”.
Still, no one has been able to give any information which could determine the location of the aircraft. The Tripartite added,
“the decision to suspend the underwater search has not been taken lightly nor without sadness”.
The statement concluded on a more forward-looking note:
“we remain hopeful that new information will come to light and that at some point in the future the aircraft will be located”.
The families and friends of the people on the plane are quite furious, and have termed the suspension of the search as “irresponsible.”
How do you think the search could be improved? Comment below!