Family members of those who went missing during the voyage are demanding answers and pressing for the search to continue. Malaysian Transport Minister Loke said, speaking during a memorial service with families this week The government is prepared to invite Ocean Infinity to discuss further “no-find, no-fee” research using the new technology if reliable evidence is confirmed. He said: “I will do my best to obtain Cabinet approval to sign a new contract with Ocean Infinity to resume research as soon as possible.”
The company's CEO, Oliver Blunkett, confirmed in an email that it had submitted a new offer and “we hope to be back in the hunt soon.” He added that since its last attempt, the company has strengthened its capabilities to search the oceans using robots and other technologies.
One expert said new research is warranted.
“For one thing, the mystery itself may never be fully solved. Because I don’t know how much evidence there is to say what actually happened to the plane,” said Sharitha Bhattiarachchi, a professor of coastal oceanography at the University of Western Australia, who conducted the drift analysis to predict the location of the wreckage. “But finding the wreckage will finally bring some closure to the real people who lost loved ones.”
Jennifer Hassan contributed to this report.
