Malaysia Halts Search for Missing Flight MH370, Plans to Resume Later This Year

The Malaysian government has temporarily suspended the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, citing unfavorable conditions, with plans to resume operations at the end of the year.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed the decision, stating, “They have stopped the operation for the time being… Right now, it’s not the season.” The announcement comes just weeks after the government had greenlit a renewed search effort, reigniting hopes of solving one of aviation’s biggest mysteries.

Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 carrying 239 people, disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Despite extensive international search efforts, only a few pieces of debris have been recovered, leaving the fate of the aircraft and its passengers unknown.

The UK- and US-based maritime exploration firm Ocean Infinity, which led an unsuccessful search in 2018, had resumed the mission last month under a “no find, no fee” agreement with Malaysia, meaning payment is only made if the aircraft is found.

The 2018 official investigation report highlighted failures in air traffic control and confirmed the plane’s course was manually altered, but it did not determine who was responsible or why. Speculation surrounding the incident continues, with theories ranging from pilot suicide to mechanical failure or hijacking.

Families of the missing passengers—many of whom are from China, Malaysia, and Australia—continue to demand answers. Last month, on the 11th anniversary of the plane’s disappearance, relatives gathered in Beijing, urging authorities to intensify efforts and end years of uncertainty.

While the search remains paused, authorities emphasize that efforts to locate MH370 are not over, and a new phase of exploration is expected to commence later this year.