PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia — The more than two-year-long hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will be suspended once the current search area in the Indian Ocean has been completely scoured, the three countries conducting the operation announced Friday, possibly ending all hopes of solving aviation's greatest mystery.
Some families of the lost plane's 239 passengers and crew were angry over the decision to stop what is already the most expensive search in aviation history, having cost $135 million. Others continued to hold out hope.
"In the absence of new evidence, Malaysia, Australia and China have collectively decided to suspend the search upon completion of the" 46,300-square-mile search area, Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said after a meeting with his Australian and Chinese counterparts.
There are fewer than 3,900 square miles left to be searched. In a statement read by Liow, the ministers acknowledged that "the likelihood of finding the aircraft is fading."
The ministers said the search could be revived, but only if new evidence emerges.
Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.