Nearly three years after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the underwater search for the wreckage of the Boeing 777 has been suspended.
The last search vessel left the underwater search area on Tuesday, according to a statement by the Joint Agency Communication Centre, which represents government agencies that have participated in the search.
The statement by officials of the three countries involved in the search — Australia, China and Malaysia — said, “Despite every effort using the best science available, cutting edge technology, as well as modeling and advice from highly skilled professionals who are the best in their field, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft.
“Accordingly, the underwater search for MH370 has been suspended.”
The airplane disappeared March 8, 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew. Several pieces of the airplane have washed ashore on Pacific islands, but the main wreckage has not been found.
Tuesday’s statement said that authorities “remain hopeful that new information will come to light” and that the airplane eventually will be located.
