Malaysia has extended its agreement with deep-sea exploration firm Ocean Infinity to continue the underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 by an additional year, the transport ministry announced on Monday. The extension covers the period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Background of the Disappearance
The Boeing 777 aircraft vanished on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members. The disappearance remains one of aviation's greatest mysteries, with multiple search operations in the southern Indian Ocean failing to locate the wreckage.
Ocean Infinity's Role and New Deal Terms
Ocean Infinity previously conducted searches for the plane until 2018. Last year, the company signed a new contract with Malaysia to resume the hunt over a 15,000 square kilometer (5,792 square mile) area. Under the agreement, Ocean Infinity will be paid $70 million only if it successfully finds the wreckage.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that the extension aims to allow Ocean Infinity to fully complete the search of a remaining area of 7,428.54 square kilometers. The decision also accounts for the firm's new commercial contract commitments, which will require the temporary redeployment of primary search assets to another location between November 2026 and April 2027.
Government Commitment to Families
“This decision is a manifestation of the government’s continuous and unwavering commitment to provide a closure for the next of kin of the passengers aboard flight MH370,” Loke said in a statement. The extension underscores Malaysia's dedication to resolving the decade-long mystery and bringing answers to the families of the 239 people on board.
The search area, located in the remote southern Indian Ocean, has been scoured extensively but without success. The new contract terms provide a financial incentive for Ocean Infinity to locate the wreckage, with payment contingent on discovery.
