Families of those aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are urging the Malaysian government to extend Ocean Infinity's search contract as the latest deep-sea exploration effort failed to locate the aircraft that disappeared 12 years ago. The Boeing 777 vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, including passengers and crew members.
Key Takeaways
Families of those aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are urging the Malaysian government to extend Ocean Infinity's search contract as the latest deep-sea exploration effort failed to locate the aircraft that disappeared 12 years ago. The Boeing 777 vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people.
- Renewed deep-sea search for MH370 comes up empty after covering 7,571 sq km of seabed
- Ocean Infinity's contract runs until June but vessel redeployed due to winter months and deteriorating sea conditions
- Voice370 urges Malaysia to extend 'no find, no fee' opportunities to other deep-sea exploration companies
- Search conducted in two phases: March 25–28 last year and December 31, 2025, to January 23 this year
- Families vow to continue fight for answers
Multiple search operations in the southern Indian Ocean have proven fruitless since then. Malaysia agreed last year to allow Ocean Infinity to resume the hunt under a 'no find, no fee' principle, with the firm set to be paid $70 million only if wreckage is successfully located. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) reported that recent search phases covering 28 days and about 7,571 sq km of seabed did not yield any findings. Operations were periodically disrupted by weather and sea conditions.
The most recent phase ended on January 23, with no confirmed discoveries. Voice370, a group representing families of those onboard, stated that it is unlikely for Ocean Infinity to resume the search before its contract ends in June due to deteriorating sea conditions and redeployment of their vessel. They urged the government to grant any request for an extension and expand similar terms to other interested exploration firms.
The search was conducted in two phases: March 25–28 last year and December 31, 2025, to January 23 this year. The AAIB noted that weather conditions periodically disrupted operations but did not provide details on when the search might resume. Satellite data had previously indicated the plane turned from its flight path and headed south into the far-southern Indian Ocean.
Voice370 emphasized that Malaysia should consider extending 'no find, no fee' opportunities to other capable deep-sea exploration companies if the current search proves unsuccessful. The group vowed to continue their fight for answers, stating they would never give up on finding closure for the families involved.
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