KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A renewed search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared on March 8, 2014, has not located any wreckage after extensive underwater exploration. Malaysian authorities announced on Sunday that a deep-sea search conducted by marine robotics company Ocean Infinity has come up empty, prompting families of the missing passengers to call for the continuation of search efforts.
Search Efforts and Findings
The Air Accident Investigation Bureau reported that the recent search effort, which spanned from March 2025 to January 2026, covered approximately 7,571 square kilometers (2,923 square miles) of seabed. Despite this extensive survey, no confirmed findings of the aircraft wreckage have emerged. The statement indicated that weather conditions intermittently disrupted operations throughout the search period.
Malaysia authorized Ocean Infinity to renew the search under a “no-find, no-fee” contract for a designated area in the southern Indian Ocean, believed to be where the aircraft crashed. The contract stipulates a payment of $70 million only if the wreckage is discovered. The search was carried out in two phases: from March 25 to March 28, 2025, and again from December 31, 2025, to January 23, 2026.
The Boeing 777, carrying 239 people—mostly Chinese nationals—vanished from radar shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing. Satellite data later indicated that the aircraft had deviated from its flight path, heading south into the Indian Ocean, where it is presumed to have crashed.
Families Demand Continued Search
Despite the lack of findings, families of the passengers continue to pressure the Malaysian government for further action. The advocacy group Voice 370, representing relatives of those onboard, urged the government to extend Ocean Infinity’s contract and explore similar agreements with other deep-sea exploration companies.
Although Ocean Infinity’s current contract is set to expire in June, the group has expressed concerns that the company’s vessel has been reassigned to other projects and is unlikely to return to the search area due to the approaching winter and worsening sea conditions.
“The government pays nothing unless the aircraft is found. Any request by Ocean Infinity to extend the search contract should therefore be granted without hesitation,”
the group stated. They emphasized their commitment to seeking answers, asserting, “We will never give up!”
Past search efforts, including a private search conducted by Ocean Infinity in 2018, have similarly failed to locate the aircraft. While some debris linked to MH370 has washed ashore on the east coast of Africa and various Indian Ocean islands, the main wreckage remains elusive.
The families’ determination highlights the ongoing emotional toll of the tragedy, as they seek closure more than a decade after the flight’s mysterious disappearance. The Malaysian government faces increasing pressure to act decisively in the search for Flight MH370, as the quest for answers continues.
