Malaysia extends MH370 search deal with Ocean Infinity by one year

Malaysia has extended by one year its agreement with deep-sea exploration firm Ocean Infinity to continue the underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the Transport Ministry said on Monday.The Boeing 777 was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members when it disappeared while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014, becoming one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries. Multiple search operations in the southern Indian Ocean have so far failed to locate the aircraft.

* Ocean Infinity had searched for the aircraft until 2018. Last year, it signed a new agreement with Malaysia to resume the search across an area of 15,000 sq km (5,792 sq miles). Under the deal, the company will receive $70 million only if it successfully locates the wreckage.
* The extension covers the 12-month period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke said in a statement.* “This decision reflects the government’s continued and unwavering commitment to providing closure for the next of kin of the passengers aboard flight MH370,” Loke said.

* The extension will allow Ocean Infinity to complete the search of the remaining 7,428.54 sq km area, he added.

* Loke said the extension also takes into account Ocean Infinity’s new commercial contract commitments, which will require the deployment of the search’s primary assets to another location between November 2026 and April 2027.