Search

Searching for MH370—Two Years Later

Share this article

MH370PlaybackImage

Two years ago today, while conducting flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, 9M-MRO—a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER—disappeared. We tracked the flight from take off at 00:41 local time (16:41 UTC) to cruising altitude at 35,000 feet. Our last contact with MH370 occurred at 1:21 local (17:21 UTC) approximately 140 km northeast of Kuala Terengganu.

Raw MH370 ADS-B data received by Flightradar24
Raw MH370 ADS-B data received by Flightradar24

Subsequent military radar contacts and satellite “handshakes” with an Inmarsat satellite led investigators to determine that the flight turned west, then south, and flew into the Indian Ocean. After analysis of likely crash areas, the Malaysian government asked the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to assume responsibility for the search.

Latest update from the ATSB on the search area for MH370
Latest update from the ATSB on the search area for MH370

Debris Found

Consistent with drift analysis performed by The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), debris from MH370 was discovered on Réunion Island in the western Indian Ocean on 29 July 2015. The flaperon from 9M-MRO was the first piece of debris to be conclusively linked to MH370. Additional pieces have since been discovered and sent to authorities for analysis to determine if they are from MH370.

Analysis of likely drift of MH370 debris by The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Analysis of likely drift of MH370 debris by The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Updated Tracking Guidelines

Just yesterday, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) released new guidelines designed to ensure that aircraft in distress remain able to be tracked at all times. All of the new requirements are scheduled to take effect by 2021.

Flightradar24 remains committed to global ADS-B coverage and we’re currently exploring a number of solutions to achieve that goal.

 

 

Featured Image by Nicolas G

On The Radar Logo

Get the latest aviation news delivered to you

Get the latest aviation news delivered to you

Flight tracking and aviation industry news direct to your inbox

Aviation news comes quickly, so join more than 1.7 million others who receive weekly aviation industry and flight tracking news from Flightradar24 direct to their inbox.

Share this article
Latest threads
Latest video

Most wanted airport receiver locations

We’re always looking for additional receiver hosts in areas that either lack coverage or need additional coverage. Help us grow the Flightradar24 ADS-B network.

Trending articles
On The Radar Logo
Get weekly updates on Flightradar24 and have the latest aviation news land in your inbox.
AvTalk Logo

AvTalk Episode 316: The helicopter in the Hudson

Most wanted airport receiver locations

We’re always looking for additional receiver hosts in areas that either lack coverage or need additional coverage. Help us grow the Flightradar24 ADS-B network.

How flight tracking works

Flightradar24 combines data from several data sources including ADS-B, MLAT and radar data.
Search the blog
Follow us
Latest AvTalk Podcasts
More stories
In April 2010, the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted, spewing ash high into the atmosphere and wreaking havoc on commercial air traffic in Europe and…
A man with a knife hijacked a Tropicair Cessna Grand Caravan in Belize yesterday. He stabbed three fellow passengers before being shot by another…
An example full flight summary response from the Flightradar24 API: { "data": [ { "fr24_id": "0987654321", "flight": "SK1415", "callsign": "SAS1415", "operated_as": "SAS", "painted_as": "SAS", "type": "A20N", "reg": "SE-DOY", "orig_icao": "ESSA", "orig_iata": "ARN", "datetime_takeoff": "2023-01-27T05:15:22", "runway_takeoff": "12R", "dest_icao": "EKCH", "dest_iata": "CPH", "dest_icao_actual": "EPWA", "dest_iata_actual": "WAW", "datetime_landed": "2023-01-27T06:15:10", "runway_landed": "27L", "flight_time": 3600, "actual_distance": 1007.74, "circle_distance": 6245, "category": "Passenger", "hex": "4A91F9", "first_seen": "2023-01-27T05:06:22", "last_seen": "2023-01-27T06:18:10", "flight_ended": "true" } ] }
Flightradar24’s new and powerful API continues to grow, and the Flight summary API endpoint is our latest addition. Flight summary is our most requested…

Flight tracking top 10 aircraft

Explore the top 10 most tracked aircraft and find out why these particular aircraft draw so much interest.

Help to grow our flight tracking coverage

We are continually looking to improve our flight tracking and the airports below are where new receivers will add the most coverage. Apply for a receiver today and if accepted you’ll receiver a free Flightradar24 Business Subscription.

Free ADS-B Receiver
Flightradar24 logo
Try the full Flightradar24 experience free for 7 days
Remove ads and unlock over 50 additional features
On The Radar Logo

Get the Flightradar24 Aviation newsletter

Flight tracking and aviation industry news direct to your inbox

Aviation news comes quickly, so we want to bring more of the aviation world to you with our weekly Flightradar24 aviation newsletter - On The Radar.

On The Radar Logo