New Search Area in the Southern Indian Ocean offers Renewed Hope for MH370 Discovery
Ten years after its disappearance, the mystery surrounding Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 may be closer to resolution. A new search campaign is set to begin in the southern indian Ocean, spearheaded by the deep-sea exploration company Ocean Infinity, with the backing of the Malaysian government.
On March 8, 2014, MH370, a Boeing 777 carrying 239 passengers and crew members, vanished shortly after departing Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, en route to Beijing, China. The aircraft ceased transmitting and significantly deviated from its planned flight path, ultimately believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean - a conclusion reached due to the lack of any evidence of a landing on land.
Despite extensive search efforts between 2014 and 2018, the main wreckage and crucial “black boxes” remain unfound. However, debris confirmed to be from the aircraft has washed ashore on islands and coastlines across the western Indian Ocean, including Reunion Island (a high-speed fin in 2015), Mozambique (parts of a right wing stabilization flap and rear fin), and also South Africa, Tanzania, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
While the cause of the disappearance remains undetermined,investigators currently consider a purposeful act by the pilot as the most probable clarification. Families of the victims continue to advocate for a thorough investigation and answers to prevent similar tragedies.
On December 3,2025,MalaysiaS Ministry of Transport announced its acceptance of an offer from Ocean Infinity to resume the search. As detailed in an official press release,the new operation will focus on a 15,000 km² area in the southern Indian Ocean,identified as having the highest probability of locating the aircraft.
The search, commencing December 30, is scheduled to last 55 days under the terms of the agreement between the Malaysian government and Ocean Infinity. This isn’t the first attempt by Ocean Infinity; the company previously conducted a 90-day search in 2017-2018, which proved unsuccessful.
The Malaysian government indicated in 2019 its willingness to authorize a renewed investigation contingent on receiving “convincing evidence,” though the specifics of this evidence and the precise location of the new search area have not been publicly disclosed. Ocean Infinity stands to receive a $70 million reward should the wreckage of MH370 be discovered.
