MH370 search reveals 'valuable lesson' learnt during £120m hunt for missing plane

A woman who played a key role in the £120 million search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has spoken about the profound personal lessons she gained from the experience, as she celebrates a major academic milestone. Christine Robertson, a Queensland firefighter and former Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) member, reflected on the "pressure and challenges" of the world’s most expensive aviation search after graduating with a Bachelor of Psychological Science from Charles Darwin University.

Robertson, who once believed she wasn't "smart enough" for university due to never finishing high school, is now one of 2,117 graduates from CDU's November 2024 and March 2025 cohorts. She credits her involvement in the MH370 search with giving her the confidence and resilience to succeed academically.

“Experiences such as these taught me a valuable lesson about myself,” she said. “This experience showed me I was capable and resilient enough to face the pressure and challenges that inevitably come with studying in university.”

Robertson was part of the official search for MH370 during her RAAF service, an operation that captivated global attention after the aircraft vanished without a trace on March 8, 2014, during a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

The Boeing 777-200ER was carrying 239 people when it disappeared, sparking what would become the most complex and costly search in aviation history.

The plane's final movements remain a mystery. After losing contact with air traffic control over the South China Sea, MH370 deviated sharply from its course, flying across the Malay Peninsula and out over the Indian Ocean.

Despite extensive underwater searches, including one led by Ocean Infinity in 2018 and renewed efforts delayed to later this year, the main wreckage has never been found.

Robertson said her experience in the search zone was a defining moment, not only for her military career but also her personal growth. It became a catalyst for her decision to pursue higher education and a new career in psychological science.

“I still love my role as a firefighter and serving the community in a meaningful way,” she said. “However, my focus has always been becoming the best version of myself and for my family. I am excited for the future ahead.”

Balancing study, work, and family, Robertson has worn many hats as a wife, mother, emergency responder, and now graduate. Her story, she says, is proof that no one is confined to a single path.

“With the support of the right people around us, we can pursue multiple passions and carve our own unique journeys,” she said.