Malaysia finalizes deal with exploration firm to resume MH370 wreckage search

Malaysia has agreed to terms with exploration firm Ocean Infinity to restart the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 wreckage, its transport minister said on Wednesday.

The agreement will initiate seabed search operations in a new area of about 15,000 square kilometers in the southern Indian Ocean, following a "no find, no fee" principle. Under the deal, Ocean Infinity will receive $70 million if the wreckage is successfully located.

“The government is committed to continuing the search operation and providing closure for the families of the MH370 passengers,” said Minister Loke Siew Fook in a statement.

The deal follows an earlier in-principle agreement reached in December with Ocean Infinity, the firm that conducted the previous search efforts that ended in 2018 after two unsuccessful attempts. That search was conducted in a 120,000 square kilometer area based on Inmarsat satellite data, involving Malaysia, Australia, and China.

A ship was deployed to the Indian Ocean search zone late last month, even before the finalization of the deal. Although the duration of the new contract has not been confirmed, Loke previously indicated it would cover an 18‑month period.

The renewed effort marks a significant step in the long-standing quest to solve one of aviation’s greatest mysteries—the disappearance of MH370 in 2014 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

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