Malaysian authorities say they plan to start searching for the missing MH370 plane again, 10 years after it disappeared
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- Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke said the government plans to spare no expense to find MH370.
- The government is in talks with marine robotics company Ocean Infinity for a new search operation.
- The search for MH370 and its 239 passengers ceased in July 2018.
Malaysian authorities announced on Sunday that they are planning to start searching for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 again, the Malaysian broadcaster Bernama TV reported.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke told local media that the Malaysian government is in discussions with the marine robotics company Ocean Infinity on launching a new search operation, per Bernama TV.
On Sunday, Loke attended the remembrance event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the plane's disappearance in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Loke did not say when the discussions would be finalized nor when the search operation would be launched.
Loke said in Bernama TV's broadcast that the Malaysian government plans to spare no expense when it comes to finding the missing plane.
"No reluctance. As I have mentioned several times, as far as Malaysia's government is concerned, we are committed to that search," Loke said.
"We have never considered the cost. If they can find the plane, I think the cost is something the government has to bear," he added. Loke did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Oliver Plunket, the CEO of Ocean Infinity, told the local newspaper New Straits Times that it had already submitted its proposal to the Malaysian government. The company is headquartered in Austin.
"This search is arguably the most challenging, and indeed the most pertinent one out there," Plunkett said, adding that the company is working to narrow down the search area. Ocean Infinity did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.
MH370 went missing while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. A total of 227 passengers — which included three Americans — and 12 crew were on board. In July 2018, the Malaysian government announced it would be ceasing its search for the plane.