Ukraine Extends Drone Operations into the Mediterranean, Raising New Considerations for Shipping Risk

• A new search effort for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has commenced more than a decade after its disappearance.

• A specialized multipurpose vessel has sailed from Western Australia toward a remote search area in the Indian Ocean.

• The operation focuses on previously uncovered seabed areas using advanced deepwater sonar systems.

• Malaysian authorities have given principle approval, with contractual arrangements still pending.

According to the report, a renewed search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has officially begun in the remote Southern Indian Ocean, reviving hopes of resolving one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries more than ten years after the aircraft vanished.

Vessel Deployment and Capabilities

A Singapore-flagged multipurpose offshore vessel departed the Kwinana anchorage in Western Australia on December 23 and has been proceeding westward into the Indian Ocean at approximately 10.5 knots, based on ship tracking data. The 86-meter vessel is equipped with advanced sonar technology capable of operating at depths of several thousand meters, with the mission targeting areas not fully surveyed during earlier search campaigns.

Operator Statement and Government Role

The exploration firm conducting the operation confirmed the restart of activities in a brief statement: “With the support of the Malaysian Government, we are resuming the search for the missing aircraft MH370. Due to the important and sensitive nature of this search, formal communications will come through the Malaysian Government.”

The search area encompasses a large expanse of the Southern Indian Ocean and is informed by updated satellite data and drift analysis.

Contract Status and Search Scope

In February, Malaysia’s Transport Minister confirmed that while principle approval had been granted for the search to resume, a formal contract had not yet been signed. The proposal outlines an 18-month search effort, expanding the previously covered area by 15,000 square kilometers. The period from January to April has been identified as offering the most favorable operational conditions.

Background of the Disappearance

The Boeing 777 disappeared on March 8, 2014, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew on a scheduled flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The aircraft’s final transmission occurred around 40 minutes after takeoff as it entered Vietnamese airspace over the Gulf of Thailand, after which its transponder was switched off.

Military radar later tracked the aircraft as it deviated from its planned route, crossing back over northern Malaysia and into the Andaman Sea before turning south, where all contact was lost. Since then, debris confirmed or believed to be from the aircraft has been found along the African coastline and on islands in the Indian Ocean.

Previous Search Efforts

This marks the third attempt by the current operator to locate the wreckage. Two earlier searches conducted in 2018 in the southern Indian Ocean were unsuccessful. Those efforts followed an extensive multinational underwater search covering approximately 120,000 square kilometers, based on data from automatic satellite communications between the aircraft and an Inmarsat satellite.

A 495-page investigative report released in 2018 concluded that the aircraft’s controls were likely deliberately manipulated to deviate from its course, but investigators were unable to determine responsibility. The report noted that a definitive conclusion would depend on locating the wreckage and found no suspicious factors related to the background, finances, training, or mental health of either pilot.