British scientists have made a significant discovery that could potentially unravel the mystery surrounding Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
Back in March 2014, the plane - carrying 12 crew members and 227 passengers - took off from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, destined for the Chinese capital of Beijing. However, for some unknown reason, the plane veered off course and is believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean.
For weeks, people awaited the news that the plane and those onboard had been found... but it never came.
As a result, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has become a modern day mystery, with conspiracy theories running rampant about what may have happened to the doomed plane.
But now, there's hope that it may be discovered after more than 10 years.
Researchers from Cardiff University have analyzed data from hydrophones - specialized underwater microphones designed to detect deep-sea sound - which recorded a six-second signal believed to coincide with the time MH370 crashed into the ocean after running out of fuel.
The MH370 aircraft weighed 200 tons and was believed to have been traveling at speeds of around 200 meters per second. Upon crashing into the ocean, this would have created enough energy to replicate that of a small earthquake - big enough to have been captured by hydrophones.
The signal was detected near the seventh arc, a remote area west of Perth, pinpointed as the likely crash site based on satellite communications, The Telegraph reports.
Dr. Usama Kadri, a researcher at Cardiff University, emphasized the sensitivity of hydrophones, stating: “It’s highly unlikely that a large aircraft impacting the ocean surface wouldn’t leave a detectable pressure signature, particularly on nearby hydrophones.”
The Cape Leeuwin hydroacoustic station in Western Australia first picked up the signal. However, notably, the signal was not detected at the Diego Garcia station, raising questions "about its origin".
Both stations were active at the time of the crash, and were originally set up to monitor the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.
The Cardiff University team proposed conducting further tests akin to those used to locate the Argentine navy submarine ARA San Juan in 2017.
By detonating controlled explosions or using airguns along the seventh arc, researchers could mimic the pressure signatures associated with an aircraft crash. If these simulated signals correlate with the signal detected at Cape Leeuwin, it could narrow down the search area significantly.
Dr. Kadri underscored the potential impact of their findings, stating: “If the recommendations are followed by the appropriate authorities, we can assess the relevance of the observed signals, potentially shedding light on the location of MH370.”
The search for MH370 has been one of the most extensive and perplexing in aviation history, involving multiple countries and exhaustive efforts to locate the missing aircraft and its 239 passengers and crew.
Despite previous search missions and the discovery of debris washed ashore in the Indian Ocean, the main wreckage has eluded recovery - leaving the rest of the world waiting for answers.
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