“This does not mean we have given up on looking for MH370”, Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said at a press conference.
Advertisement
“Should credible new information emerge which can be used to identify the specific location of the aircraft, consideration will be given in determining next steps”, the ministers’ statement added.
There are fewer than 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 square miles) left to be searched.
In 2015, ministers of the three leading search countries, Australia, China, and Malaysia met in Malaysia, where they mutually decided that if no evidence was found after covering the defined zone, the search would be “suspended”.
Sgt. Matthew Falanga, onboard a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion, searches for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in the southern Indian Ocean in 2014. The Voice 370 statement was issued as as transport ministers from Australia, China and Malaysia prepared for a meeting Friday that may dictate how much longer the search continues.
The search for MH370 is the most expensive aviation search in history.
To access previous Inquisitr coverage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah and his possible role in the plane’s disappearance, see the links in the “Previous Coverage” box below on this page. During the suspension period, the cooperation between the Malaysian, Australian and the Chinese governments are still ongoing.
The current search area was determined by an worldwide panel of scientists and engineers, under the theory that the aircraft, with 239 people on board, ran out of fuel and fell into the ocean.
Several relatives of Chinese victims said they felt betrayed by the decision. “We will definitely gather to protest it and I have lost confidence to the Malaysian government”. While it could take some time before the connection is confirmed, according to a report in the Daily Beast, experts who have seen images of the flotsam believe it’s nearly certain it’s from the missing plane.
It comes amid suggestions the search may be centred on the wrong area.
He was also pressed on reports a member of the investigation team had said it was very likely “a controlled ditching”.
“We hope they will continue the search along the African coastline and if they don’t, we might start raising money ourselves and seek help from the people who live in those areas to be on the lookout for debris and we can offer them a reward if they find any credible items”, said Nathan.
Some debris from the wreck has shown up in Mozambique, Maldives, and possibly Madagascar, but no one has found the plane’s main body, or its passengers.
The document is quoted as saying the simulated flight was made less than a month before MH370 went missing in March 2014.
Advertisement
A ping from the plane was detected around seven hours later.
