Search for Flight MH370 May Be Scrapped

The hunt for missing flight MH370 is being reviewed and may be scrapped, Malaysia’s prime minister said on Wednesday, as the country’s new government seeks cuts in public spending. The Malaysia Airlines jet disappeared in March 2014 with 239 mostly Chinese people onboard while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No sign of the plane was found in a 120,000 square kilometer sea search zone and the Australian-led hunt, the largest in aviation history, was suspended in January last year. The former Malaysian government struck a “no find, no fee” deal with exploration firm Ocean Infinity to resume the search in an area north of the original zone, that scientists now believe is the likeliest crash site. The search restarted in January and Ocean Infinity stands to make as much as $70 million if the jet is found. However Malaysia’s new government said they may not continue the deal, France 24 reported. “We are reviewing the contract,” Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said. “We may terminate it if it’s not useful.”