It’s been almost seven weeks now since the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 begun. It has gone from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean from the air to the ocean’s surface and now, underwater, all of which have been a collective effort by several nations. CCTV’s Barnaby Lo has more on this unprecedented multinational search mission from Perth.
Australian Navy ships HMAS Success (L) and HMAS Toowoomba (R) conduct a Replenishment at Sea with United States Navy Ship (USNS) Cesar Chavez in the southern Indian Ocean as they continue to search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in this picture released by the Australian Defence Force April 15, 2014. A U.S.
It’s been a busy few weeks at Australia’s Pearce Air base with military and civilian aircrafts from about half a dozen countries flying in and out. Their destination, the Indian Ocean; the mission, to find the missing Malaysia airliner Flight MH 370.
Several ships are also involved in the search, including China’s Haixun 01, Britain’s sophisticated survey vessel HMS Echo, and Australia’s Ocean Shield – which has been carrying a towed pinger locator and the robotic submarine Bluefin-21, both American.
"I can tell you right now that that this is the best case in history where you have this multinational team that kind of pull together with the best intention of trying to resolve what happened and bring closure to the families involved.” U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Matthews said.
From the time they started searching in the South China Sea to when they determined MH 370 to most likely be somewhere in the Indian Ocean, there has been an unprecedented amount of international cooperation, even among countries that lately, may have been seeing eye to eye on certain geopolitical issues.
China and Japan, in particular, have been in a tense territorial dispute. The United States, while emphasizing that it does not take sides in sovereignty issues, has pledged to support Japan. But it appears they’ve been able to set aside their differences for now.
"It’s a great opportunity to work together and to build friendships, build stronger bonds for a common good, that’s great. I mean that’s a great outcome out of a tragedy. They are sharing information they wouldn’t normally share. There would be limitations to what they’re doing but certainly as a broad thing, very great cooperation.” Aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas said.
That the world has united may indeed be the best thing that has emerged from this tragedy. But as the search drags on longer and longer, the question is, when will they give up hope? The Malaysian government says – never.
