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A11
WORLD NEWS Wednesday 30 May 2018

Leader of failed MH370 wreckage hunt hopes to search again

By EILEEN NG Australia coordinated an
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia official search on Malaysia's
(AP) — The head of a U.S. behalf that scoured
technology company 120,000 square kilometers
that scoured the Indian (46,000 square miles) and
Ocean seabed for more cost 200 million Australian
than three months looking dollars ($150 million) before
for Malaysia Airlines Flight it ended last year.
370 said on Tuesday he Experts used drift analysis
was disappointed the hunt of wreckage found
failed to find any wreckage washed ashore on the
and hoped to take part in west coasts of the Indian
a future search. Ocean to define the new
Malaysia said last week search area where Ocean
the search by Texas-based Infinity focused. The area
Ocean Infinity would end considered the most likely
on Tuesday after two crash site was only 25,000
extensions of the original square kilometers (9,650
90-day time limit. square miles), roughly the
Ocean Infinity chef size of Vermont.
executive Oliver Plunkett Ocean Infinity ship Seabed
said the search would Contractor made quick
soon end after covering progress operating up to
more than 112,000 square eight remotely controlled
kilometers (43,000 square underwater sonar drones.
miles) of remote ocean Danica Weeks, an
floor — an area more than Australian resident who lost
four times larger than the her husband on Flight 370,
zone targeted by experts urged Foreign Minister Julie
as the most likely crash site. Bishop to call on Malaysia's
"I would firstly like to extend new government to be
the thoughts of everyone more transparent about
at Ocean Infinity to the what they know about the
families of those who have mysterious disappearance.
lost loved ones on MH370. Jiang Hui of China, whose
Part of our motivation for In this May 24, 2018, photo, Jiang Hui whose mother was on board the missing Malaysia airplane mother was on board the
renewing the search was to MH370 speaks to journalist about Texas-based company Ocean Infinity's search in Beijing, China. plane, said he appreciated
try to provide some answers Associated Press Ocean Infinity's efforts
to those affected," Plunkett but still hoped for more
said in a statement. with which we covered Grace Nathan, reevaluate, and restart if information on the reason
"It is therefore with a heavy such a vast area," Plunkett spokeswoman for the necessary," said Nathan, for the disappearance.
heart that we end our said. victims' next of kin support who lost her mother on The recent seating of a new
current search without "We sincerely hope that we group Voice370, said Flight 370. Malaysian government
having achieved that aim," will be able to again offer Malaysia's new government Australia, Malaysia and under Prime Minister
he added. our services in the search had given the families no China agreed in 2016 that Mahathir Mohamad could
Plunkett said he was for MH370 in the future," he information about what an official search would offer the prospects of new
pleased to hear the new added. would happen next. only resume if the three data becoming available,
Malaysian government Malaysia signed a "no cure, "I don't think Voice370 countries had credible Jiang told said last week.
had made finding the no fee" deal with Ocean is ready to give up. We evidence that identified "I don't believe a
Boeing 777 that vanished Infinity in January to resume strongly believe this is a specific location for the corrupted government
with 239 people aboard a the hunt for the plane, not the time to give up," wreckage. can be efficient or fair,"
priority. a year after the official Nathan said in Kuala Flight 370 vanished on he said, referring to the
"Whilst clearly the outcome search in the southern Lumpur, Malaysia. March 8, 2014, while flying administration of Najib
so far is extremely Indian Ocean by Australia, "The fact that this current from Kuala Lumpur to Razak, who was Malaysia's
disappointing, as a Malaysia and China was search didn't find anything Beijing. The original search prime minister when the
company, we are truly called off. Ocean Infinity has only raised more focused on the South China flight disappeared and
proud of what we have stood to be paid $70 million questions than provided Sea before an analysis who has been questioned
achieved both in terms of if it had found the wreckage answers. I believe this revealed that the plane by police in a money-
the quality of data we've or black boxes. No other means that there is more had made an unexpected laundering scandal that
produced and the speed search is scheduled. reason to reinvestigate, turn west and then south. tainted his government.q