Cabinet greenlights MH370 deep-sea search extension with Ocean Infinity for another year, search to resume July 1, says Anthony Loke

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — The government has agreed to extend its agreement with UK-based Ocean Infinity for another 12 months to continue deep-sea efforts to locate Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.

Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook said the Cabinet approved the extension on June 26, with the new contract period running from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

He said the move reflects the government’s continued commitment to providing closure for the families of those on board the ill-fated flight.

“The extension retains all key terms and conditions of the existing agreement, including the ‘no find, no fee’ principle,” he said in a statement today.

Under the arrangement, Malaysia will not be required to make any payment if the wreckage is not found. 

However, a success fee of US$70 million (RM284 million) will be paid to Ocean Infinity if the aircraft is located.

The extension allows the remaining 7,428.54 square kilometres of search area to be fully covered by the company.

Loke said the decision also takes into account Ocean Infinity’s new commercial commitments, which require its main operational assets to be temporarily redeployed elsewhere.

He added that the rescheduled deployment window — between November 2026 and April 2027 — coincides with calmer sea conditions, which are more suitable for safe and effective search operations.