Sonar images that have been released reportedly show shadowy areas that are large enough to conceal the wreckage of the missing plane.
As a result, there has been a growing clamor for the search teams to release their data. The search teams are part of the collaboration between the governments of Malaysia, China, and Australia. The three governments are also funding the search, whose cost may have gone over $200 million.
As of June, the search has already cost the Australian government $100 million while Malaysia has reportedly spent $60 million. China has not yet disclosed how much it had already spent for participating in the search. Most of the 239 passengers onboard the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 were Chinese when it went missing on March 8 last year.
From several vessels, the search is down to one ship. Fugro, the Dutch company tapped to lead the search, admitted that it could have missed the plane because the sonar equipment that they have been using is inappropriate. The company also said that they are trying to cover a big area at once.
However, Australian safety officials debunk Fugro’s claim by saying that the equipment being used has been thoroughly tested.