The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 will resume on December 30, more than 11 years after the aircraft disappeared. The announcement was made by Malaysia’s transport ministry on Wednesday. The Boeing 777 vanished on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying 239 people, including 227 passengers and 12 crew members.

Since the plane's disappearance, multiple search efforts have been conducted, but none have successfully located the aircraft. The most recent search in the southern Indian Ocean was suspended in April due to adverse weather conditions. The upcoming search will be led by Ocean Infinity, a Texas-based marine robotics firm, which has signed a new contract with the Malaysian government.

Under the terms of the “no-find, no-fee” agreement, Ocean Infinity will conduct seabed operations for 55 days in areas assessed to have the highest probability of locating the aircraft. The search will cover a 15,000-square-kilometer (5,800-square-mile) area in the Indian Ocean. The Malaysian government will pay Ocean Infinity $70 million if substantial wreckage is found during the search.

Ocean Infinity previously conducted searches for the missing plane in 2018 but did not find any significant wreckage. The firm has reportedly improved its technology since then and is working with experts to analyze data to narrow down the search area.

The disappearance of Flight MH370 remains one of aviation's greatest mysteries. Investigators have suggested that the aircraft may have been deliberately taken off course, but they have not determined who was responsible. Debris confirmed to be from the plane has washed ashore on the east African coast and on islands in the Indian Ocean.

The Malaysian transport ministry emphasized that the renewed search reflects the government's commitment to providing closure for the families of those affected by the tragedy. More than 150 of the passengers were Chinese nationals, along with others from Malaysia, France, Australia, Indonesia, India, the United States, Ukraine, and Canada. Relatives of the passengers have sought compensation from various companies, including Malaysia Airlines and Boeing, among others.