Malaysia Airlines Flight 370: New update as deep-sea search yields no finds, families urge extension
malaysia airlines flight 370 remains undiscovered after a renewed deep-sea search finished with no new findings, Malaysia’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau said following 28 days of operations in the southern Indian Ocean; the search covered more than 2, 900 square miles and concluded on 23 January ET, and families are pressing the government to extend the contract so work can continue.
What the AAIB, Ocean Infinity and families say
Malaysia’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said the latest phase of searching, carried out under a contract with Ocean Infinity, did not yield any evidence of the missing aircraft after two phases of work covering more than 2, 900 square miles (7, 500 sq km) over 28 days. The contract with Ocean Infinity was agreed on a “no find, no fee” basis, with payment of $70m only if wreckage is located. The search effort concluded on 23 January ET, with operations periodically disrupted by weather and sea conditions.
The AAIB issued a formal statement that the government “remain committed to keeping the families informed and will continue to provide updates as appropriate. ” Voice370, a group representing the families of those on board, urged the government to extend the agreement so the search can continue. Voice370 said: “A simple addendum extending the contract period without altering the core terms of the agreement would allow the search to continue without delay. ” The group also called for the same “no find, no fee” terms to be offered to other exploration firms willing to search the designated area.
Where the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 search ended and what was covered
The resumed search focused on a sector of the southern Indian Ocean identified in prior investigations. Ocean Infinity completed two search phases that together spanned roughly 28 days and swept more than 2, 900 square miles (7, 500 sq km) of seabed. Operations were interrupted at times by difficult sea and weather conditions and the second phase formally ended on 23 January ET. Under the terms of the agreement, Ocean Infinity would only receive the $70m fee if it locates the wreckage; otherwise no payment is due.
Campaigners warned that a third phase is unlikely to begin before June, when the current contract period ends, because conditions typically worsen in the southern hemisphere winter months. Families are urging that the contract be extended without changing the core financial terms so the search can pick up without procedural delay.
Background and next steps
The Boeing 777 vanished shortly after departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport en route to Beijing and became one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries. Malaysian investigators in a 2018 report drew no definitive conclusion about what happened on board, but the report did not rule out the possibility the aircraft was deliberately taken off course.
What happens next depends on the Malaysian government’s response to calls from Voice370 and on whether Ocean Infinity or other firms are willing to amend their timelines. An extension would allow search assets already mobilized to return sooner, while the approach of southern hemisphere winter complicates scheduling and safety. Officials have signaled continued communication with families and said updates will be provided as developments occur.
For now, the search that aimed to locate malaysia airlines flight 370 has ended this phase with no discoveries, leaving families and investigators to weigh extension options and the difficult operational window ahead.
