The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 was finally called off Tuesday after nearly three years spent combing the desolate Indian Ocean and its deep seabed, leaving one of the greatest aviation mysteries of all time unsolved. As the search area moved south over the Indian Ocean, Australia took charge, but there was still more than a hint of chaos, with hopes repeatedly raised and then dashed. Finally, though, confirmation came in July 2015 that the plane had indeed crashed in the Indian Ocean, when a wing flap was found on Reunion Island, east of Madagascar. The search zone shifted several times as the satellite data was examined and re-examined, and combined with updated information on ocean currents. The flight was carrying 152 Chinese nationals, and victims’ relatives here have consistently expressed frustration with the search.

Source: Washington Post January 17, 2017 07:41 UTC