Signals On Underwater Microphones Could Help Locate Malaysia Airlines MH370, Says Scientists

More than ten years after it disappeared, the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 continues to raise more questions than answers. Even after the most expensive and longest search operation in history, the location of the flight remains as mysterious as it was in 2014. But this might soon change as a team of scientists from Cardiff University in the UK has proposed a new approach.

Violent crashes leave distinct signals

According to them, audio signals captured on underwater microphones during the fatal crash could help in locating MH370. They said that violent ocean impacts, such as plane crashes, produce distinct signals that travel through the water. Hydrophone technology on the seabed can record these signals, and the scientists believe that can give them a clearer idea of where MH370 went down.

Also read: Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: The Biggest Mystery In Aviation History

AFP

What previous data showed

Dr. Usama Kadri, who led the study, said that based on two decades of hydroacoustic data available from the CTBTO, a comprehensive study was undertaken of 100 hours of data identified as having the potential for containing signals pertaining to acoustic signatures of aircraft crashing into the sea. Ten historical aircraft accidents that occurred in open sea locations were selected for this study, and their locations were identified using the hydroacoustic data.

"Notably, each hydroacoustic station consists of three hydrophones arranged in a triangular configuration with distances of a few kilometers between them. By calculating the time differences in signal arrival, it is possible to determine the bearing of the signal," the study published in the Nature Journal said.

NATURE

Hydroacoustic data alone not enough

While this alone may not lead to the discovery of the location of the crash or the remains of MH370, the authors of the study say that hydroacoustic data could help anyone still looking for it.

"In the case of MH370, official investigations concluded the aircraft must have crashed near the 7th arc¡ªthe point at which the last communication between the plane and INMARSAT occurred. Further analysis and future research are therefore necessary to fully comprehend the detected signals and their implications for MH370's disappearance," Kadri said.

Also read: MH370: Why Many Believe Pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah Is The Culprit

AFP

MH370, a Boeing 777, was on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with a total of 227 passengers and 12 crew members on 8 March 2014 when it disappeared from the skies.

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