MH370 became one of the world’s enduring aviation mysteries after its disappearance on 8 March 2014. The aircraft was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members when it vanished over the Indian Ocean. Since then, extensive search operations have been conducted, with Ocean Infinity contracted to search for the aircraft under a ‘no find, no fee’ principle.
To date, the search has covered approximately 7,571 square kilometers (2,923 square miles) of seabed, with Ocean Infinity mapping more than 140,000 square kilometers of seafloor. Despite these efforts, the search has not yielded any findings so far, and the second phase of the search ended on 23 January 2026.
Recent Developments
The search has been ongoing since 2018, with Ocean Infinity spending 151 days at sea. However, the search operations have faced disruptions due to weather and sea conditions. Oliver Plunkett, Ocean Infinity’s CEO, stated, “It was important for us to take advantage of every piece of information and data available and go back, but despite all that effort, we haven’t been able to find it.” He added, “If nothing else, we can say with confidence that it isn’t where we looked. That matters – it brings clarity, and it will help those continuing to study the evidence refine their thinking and shape future search strategies.”
Voice370, an organization representing the families of those onboard MH370, has called for a simple addendum to extend the contract period without altering the core terms of the agreement, allowing the search to continue without delay. The Malaysian government has also expressed its commitment to keeping families informed about the search progress, with a representative from Malaysia’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau stating, “The government remains committed to keeping the families informed and will continue to provide updates as appropriate.”
Looking Ahead
As the search continues, uncertainties remain regarding the timeline for resuming operations. It is unclear if the search will resume before June 2026 due to the approaching winter months in the southern hemisphere. Details remain unconfirmed.