Two-phase operation scanned vast Indian Ocean
PETALING JAYA: The latest search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has scanned more than 7,500 sq km of seabed in the southern Indian Ocean but has yet to locate the missing aircraft.
According to an update from the Air Accident Investigation Bureau under the Transport Ministry yesterday, the search operation, conducted with marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity, took place in two phases between March 2025 and January 2026.
The Malaysian government signed an agreement with Ocean Infinity on March 25, 2025, to undertake seabed search operations in a new 15,000 sq km area in the southern Indian Ocean.
The search was conducted under a “no find, no fee” arrangement.
Under the agreement, the operation was carried out in two phases – the first from March 25 to March 28, 2025, and the second from Dec 31, 2025, to Jan 23, 2026.
In total, 28 operational search days were completed across both phases, covering about 7,571 sq km of seabed within the designated search zone.
The ministry said Ocean Infinity had also conducted additional survey activities in the broader search area before the formal agreement was signed in March 2025, as part of efforts supporting the operation.
However, the search was periodically disrupted by adverse weather and sea conditions.
Phase two of the search concluded on Jan 23, 2026.
“As at the date of this update, the search activities undertaken have not yielded any findings that confirm the location of the aircraft wreckage,” the bureau said.
The government said that it remains committed to keeping the families of those on board informed and will continue to provide updates.
Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.
