Award Banner
Award Banner

MH370: What we know about Malaysia Airlines plane, 10 years on

MH370: What we know about Malaysia Airlines plane, 10 years on
A family member of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 holds a flower during a remembrance event marking the 10th anniversary of its disappearance, in Subang Jaya, Malaysia on March 3, 2024.
PHOTO: Reuters

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 ten years ago with 239 people on board remains one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.

The Boeing 777 went missing on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.

Satellite data analysis showed the plane likely crashed somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of western Australia.

However, two major searches failed to come up with any significant findings.

Here are some details of the search for MH370 and the unresolved mystery of what happened:

What do we know about what happened?

The last transmission from the Malaysia Airlines plane was about 40 minutes after it took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing.

Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah signed off with "Good night, Malaysian three seven zero", as the plane entered Vietnamese air space.

Shortly thereafter, its transponder was turned off, which meant it could not be easily tracked.

Military radar showed the plane left its flight path to fly back over northern Malaysia and Penang island, and then out into the Andaman Sea towards the tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It then turned south and all contact was lost.

Underwater searches

Malaysia, Australia and China launched an underwater search in a 120,000 sq km area in the southern Indian Ocean, based on data of automatic connections between an Inmarsat satellite and the plane.

Read Also
Malaysia says MH370 search must go on, 10 years after plane vanished
malaysia
Malaysia says MH370 search must go on, 10 years after plane vanished

The search, which cost about A$200 million (S$176 million), was called off after two years in January 2017 with no traces of the plane found.

In 2018, Malaysia accepted a "no-cure, no-fee" offer from US exploration firm Ocean Infinity for a three-month search, meaning the company would only get paid if it found the plane.

That search covered 112,000 sq km north of the original target area and also proved fruitless, ending in May 2018.

What debris has been found?

More than 30 pieces of suspected aircraft debris have been collected along the along the coast of Africa and on islands in the Indian Ocean, but only three wing fragments were confirmed to be from MH370.

Most of the debris were used in drift pattern analysis in the hopes of narrowing down the aircraft's possible location.

Investigation report 

A 495-page report into MH370's disappearance, published in July 2018, said the Boeing 777's controls were likely deliberately manipulated to take it off course, but investigators could not determine who was responsible.

The report also highlighted mistakes made by the Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City air traffic control centres and issued recommendations to avoid a repeat incident.

Investigators stopped short of offering any conclusions about what happened to MH370, saying that depended on finding the plane's wreckage.

Conspiracy theories 

The inability to locate MH370's crash site has fuelled numerous conspiracy theories, ranging from mechanical error or a remote-controlled crash, to more bizarre explanations like alien abduction and a Russian plot.

In recent years, some aviation experts have said the most likely explanation was that the plane was deliberately taken off course by an experienced pilot.

Investigators, however, have said there was nothing suspicious in the background, financial affairs, training and mental health of both the captain and co-pilot.

Will there be a new search?

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this week the government is willing to re-open an investigation into the disappearance of MH370, if there was a compelling case to do so.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said US seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity had been invited to discuss a new search proposal.

Loke said Malaysia would talk to Australia about co-operation in resuming the search once Ocean Infinity's proposal is approved by Malaysia's cabinet.

ALSO READ: Son of Flight MH370 passenger conflicted over honouring the dead

Source: Reuters

homepage

trending

trending
    Kim Kardashian scolds security guard for stepping on 2025 Met Gala dress
    Woman carrying baby unhurt after escalator steps dislodge at HarbourFront Centre
    Taiwanese actress Cheryl Yang visits Singapore, goes on gastronomic tour
    Singaporeans earning above $10k most likely to be concerned about impact of US tariffs in Singapore: AsiaOne survey
    Man arrested for alleged theft of items amounting to $2,900 at shops in Changi Airport
    Post-GE episode of Sun Xueling reading children's book goes viral
    Ministers Ong Ye Kung, Chee Hong Tat did not have any dealings with Fujian gang member Su Haijin: Statement
    'Teochew dishes with a twist': Ya Hui teams up with restaurant to cook for dog charity
    Woman flamed by netizens for secretly recording voting process on Polling Day
    Poisonous rumours and pink smoke: Busy time for conclave whisperers
    Gates Foundation to open office in Singapore
    'Dog will return soon': GE2025 independent candidate Jeremy Tan wants to contest again

Singapore

Singapore
    • GE2025: Singaporeans living abroad share experience of voting overseas
    • 'Lest you forget, the SDP never say die': Chee Soon Juan says party already preparing for GE2030
    • We may not have won Punggol, but we won something deeper: WP's Harpreet Singh on GE2025
    • PAP's Gan Siow Huang wins Marymount SMC with 70.70% of votes over PSP's Jeffrey Khoo
    • Singaporean man in Thailand nabbed for being part of illegal vape network
    • Self-taught and self-made: Nanyang Polytechnic's K-Wave club moves beyond K-pop
    • 'Asia will be among the hardest hit': SM Teo on the region's need for solutions against climate change
    • Leadership transition for Singapore complete with strong mandate from GE2025: Analysts
    • Jail for former pre-school teacher who ill-treated 2 toddlers under her care
    • SMRT Trains fined $240,000 over accident that killed technical officer

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • (G)I-dle rebrands in light of 7th anniversary, sparking mixed emotions from fans
    • Parents thank Park Seo-joon for donation that saved child: 'It was the first time in a long while our family laughed'
    • Red Velvet's Irene and Seulgi, Exo's Doh Kyung-soo, Xdinary Heroes: Singapore concert calendar for 2025
    • 'My acting wasn't going anywhere': Zhang Zetong was close to leaving showbiz before winning Star Award
    • Blackpink divides opinions with Met Gala 2025 looks — and other hits and misses
    • JK Rowling insists she won't fire Paapa Essiedu from Harry Potter over his support for trans community
    • Khloe Kardashian used fillers to hide 'really big indention' on face
    • Rina Sawayama set to star in John Wick spin-off movie
    • Sean 'Diddy' Combs jurors say they have seen video of alleged beating, heard baby oil jokes
    • Byeon Woo-seok, Park Eun-bin, Kiss of Life: A peek at their childhood photos on South Korea's Children's Day

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Local brands like Ann Chin Popiah and Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice to open at 5-star hotel in Macau
    • 'It hurts, losing everything': Mentai-Ya boss closes all remaining stalls after $550k losses in 2 years
    • Kenny Rogers Roasters now has an all-you-can-eat buffet for $28.90++, here's a sneak peek at the menu
    • This new American malt shop along Joo Chiat Road looks like it came straight out of a Wes Anderson film
    • Denza opens an 'experiential showcase' at Zhongshan Park
    • Things to do in Porto, Portugal: A curated 5-day itinerary
    • Buying a walk-up apartment in Singapore? Don't overlook the shops below - here's why
    • Fun for all in Saudi: A guide to exploring the country's best family attractions
    • Tiny island, massive flex: 60 times Singapore topped the charts
    • 5 false ceiling designs that never go out of style

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Google Pixel 9a: The best AI-centric phone under $800 in 2025?
    • Western intelligence agencies warn spyware threat targeting Taiwan, Tibetan rights advocates
    • Taiwan says China using generative AI to ramp up disinformation and 'divide' the island
    • Russian court fines Telegram app for refusal to remove anti-government content, TASS reports
    • One Beijing man's quest to keep cooking — and connecting with Americans — on camera
    • Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in June with US$449.99 price tag
    • Games in April: RPGs, racing and Ronaldo in a fighting game
    • Is it time to get a MacBook at a good price? The M4 MacBook Air says yes

Money

Money
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Japan, China, South Korea, Asean enhance regional financial safety net
    • Trump plans to hit movies made outside US with 100% tariffs
    • Do high floors equal to high returns? Let's unpack the numbers
    • What DIY property buyers in Singapore might miss out on (and why it matters)
    • 5 affordable condos with unblocked views priced under $1m
    • How tariffs could shape interest rates in 2025: What Trump's 'Liberation Day' means for Singapore home loans
    • GM delays investor call, UPS axes 20k jobs as Trump's tariffs create corporate chaos
    • India prepared to 'future-proof' trade deal as sweetener in US talks, sources say
    • UPS cuts 20,000 jobs, GM delays investor call as Trump's tariffs create corporate chaos

Latest

Latest
  • Daily roundup: Ng Chee Meng apologises for 2017 MOE incident, requests PM not to give him position in Govt — and other top stories today
  • Anti-corruption witness in Malaysia missing for one month after allegedly being taken away by 'police officers'
  • UN Security Council urges India-Pakistan talks on Kashmir, Islamabad says
  • American climber dies on world's fifth-highest peak in Nepal
  • Philippine coast guard says China ship conducting illegal survey within EEZ
  • US appeals court rejects Trump bid to revoke thousands of migrants' status
  • Netanyahu says new Gaza offensive will be intensive
  • US offers $1,300 stipend to encourage migrants to self-deport
  • Israel may seize all Gaza in expanded operation, officials say

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Ong Ye Kung leads PAP team to victory while elder brother Howard Ong loses in Australia's election on the same day
  • Tan Kiat How weighs in on viral video of Gan Kim Yong being ignored by passers-by in Punggol
  • PSP's Tan Cheng Bock turns 85; SDP's Paul Tambyah joins celebration at Teban Gardens
  • PM Wong urges voters to 'choose leaders of good character' in PAP's first party political broadcast
  • It is 'important for Singapore's democracy' that WP wins more seats, says Pritam in election broadcast
  • GE2025: PSP, RDU, SDP, PPP, PAR, NSP promise to push for policy changes if elected to Parliament in first political broadcast
  • 'Everyone has the right to express their feelings': WP candidates address four-cornered fight in Tampines GRC
  • PAP's Desmond Lee responds to opposition's calls for GST exemption, says 'we want to make it progressive'
  • 'A fresher Pritam Singh': Teo Chee Hean to Aljunied resident who mistook PAP's Faisal Abdul Aziz for WP chief
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.