More than a decade after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing, the Malaysian government has greenlit another search, banking on Texas tech whizzes Ocean Infinity to find the plane—or at least the missing $70 million.

In a move that demonstrates both dedication and a desire to avoid being the world's longest-running mystery novel, Malaysia has hired Ocean Infinity under a 'no-find, no-fee' agreement to scour a new 5,800-square-mile section of the Indian Ocean. The search, which is expected to continue until 2024, not only offers hope for closure to the 239 people who vanished with MH370 but also raises the stakes to a hefty $70 million payout for Ocean Infinity—if they can finally uncover where the plane and its baggage (or at least a good fishing story) ended up.

The saga of MH370 has captivated millions since its fateful disappearance on March 8, 2014. The flight took off from Kuala Lumpur, destined for Beijing, becoming a critical point of interest not only for the family members of the passengers but also for aviation experts trying to make sense of what went wrong. Satellite data has long suggested that the aircraft changed course unexpectedly, eventually heading south into the Indian Ocean—a place where wreckage may now be as elusive as a blue whale in a teacup.

Despite previous searches that became harder to keep track of than a toddler in a ball pit, including a huge multinational effort and an independent search by Ocean Infinity in 2018, nothing resembling wreckage has been discovered. To describe the past searches as fruitless would imply that there was at least some sort of fruit involved; in reality, it was more like an endless scavenger hunt that left many feeling like they were searching for the Holy Grail without a map.

Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke expressed that the government's commitment to continuing the search is partly for the sake of delivering closure to the families left in limbo. 'We understand the unresolved nature of this mystery has been a source of pain for many,' he commented, presumably while dodging questions about whether this search will be accompanied by actual maps or just wishful thinking.

What’s different this time around is that Ocean Infinity has upgraded its technological arsenal since their last attempt. If the improvements are as significant as a hamster becoming a thoroughbred racehorse, there may be hope yet. The company is reportedly collaborating with experts to analyze data and narrow down the new search area, a process that likely involves more algorithms than a high school math class. It's important to note that if they don’t find anything this time either, it’s $0 for the tech company—a betting strategy that would make Las Vegas house odds envious.

With the search vessel already en route to the new site, enthusiasts are cautiously optimistic about the timeframe. According to weather nerds and oceanographers, the sweet spot for search operations in this region is from January to April. This means Ocean Infinity has united the worlds of cutting-edge technology and weather forecasting in a way only modern problems seem to require—some kind of weird tech-obsessed hydra slithering across the ocean floor.

Yet, amid all the technical jargon and dollar amounts, the emotional weight of this search remains palpable. Relatives of those on board MH370 have shared their frustration, expressing that the persistent ambiguity surrounding the flight is an ongoing concern not just for their lost loved ones but also for global aviation safety. It's hard to argue with them when the mystery of MH370 feels like that family secret nobody dares bring up during Thanksgiving dinner, despite the fact that it hangs in the air like uninvited mistletoe.

As the world awaits news from this latest effort, one can't help but think back to the countless theories that have emerged over the past decade. From alien abductions to secret military bases, it seems that the only thing more perplexing than the disappearance of MH370 is the human imagination in need of an escape. So, as we set our expectations somewhere between gyroscopic advances and wishful thinking, let’s hope that this time Ocean Infinity isn’t just playing Hide and Seek with the ocean. Whether it’s wreckage or a good fishing yarn, it’s time for the truth to surface—so long as it comes with an accompanying playbook that doesn’t require deciphering the Rosetta Stone.