The Malaysian, Australian, and Chinese governments have announced the suspension of the MH370 underwater search efforts now that they’re completed their search of the approx. 12,000 sq km search area in the Southern Indian Ocean.
The announcement comes less than two months before the third anniversary of the plane’s mysterious disappearance, on 8th March 2014. According to a statement on the Joint Agency Coordination Centre website, the decision to suspend the search effort is consistent with tripartite agreement made in June when the Chinese, Malaysian, and Australian government had agreed to halt the search once 12,222 sq km area had been searched.
To date, the search has cost about AUD200 million (RM671 million) which includes the cost of ships, search equipment and manpower. But Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester noted that cost was not a factor in deciding to suspend the search.
Instead, the search was suspend due to the lack of new information and evidence. Chester also said that the decision to renew search efforts — should new evidence come to light — rests primarily on the Malaysian government.
Families react to news of search suspension
The news of the suspension was, of course, tough on the family and friends of the missing passengers and crew. A support group known as Voice370 which was founded for and by the next of kin have been vocal about their thoughts on the decision.
They’ve issued a statement on their Facebook page, calling the suspension ‘irresponsible’ and appealing the involved governments to continue the search efforts based on the latest data and evidence.
“Voice370 is dismayed to note the latest joint communique announcing the suspension of the underwater search… In our view, extending the search to the new area defined by experts is an inescapable duty owed to the flying public in the interest of aviation safety… Stopping at this stage is nothing short of irresponsible.”
– The MH370 Families Support Group
MH370 vanished en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur carrying 299 passengers and crew. The massive search effort led by the Australian government was launched soon after. Over the course of the search, several pieces debris, later confirmed to be from the plane, were found outside of the offical search area by civilians, but the main body of the plane, the crucial black box, and bodies of the victims have yet to be discovered.
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