Search History
Search Zones
Where has been searched, when, and what remains
The search for MH370 has been the largest, most expensive, and most technically demanding aviation search in history. It has covered more than 280,000 km² of seabed across multiple phases spanning more than twelve years.
Initial Surface & Air Search — South China Sea
8 March – 29 March 2014Immediately after the disappearance, search and rescue operations focused on the South China Sea along MH370's planned Kuala Lumpur–Beijing flight path. 26 countries participated. After Inmarsat satellite data was reanalysed and Malaysian military radar data revealed the aircraft had turned back, the search was redirected entirely.
ATSB Deep-Water Search — Southern Indian Ocean
October 2014 – January 2017Led by Australia's ATSB with Malaysia and China, this was the world's deepest and most complex aviation search. Contractors Fugro and Phoenix International used autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to map approximately 120,000 km² of seabed at depths of 1,500–6,000 metres. The search was suspended in January 2017 after exhausting the defined priority zone without finding the aircraft.
Ocean Infinity — First Search
January 2018 – June 2018US seabed exploration company Ocean Infinity contracted with Malaysia under a "no find, no fee" arrangement. Using the vessel Seabed Constructor with eight AUVs operating simultaneously, they searched approximately 112,000 km² — including areas north of the ATSB search zone — in roughly five months. The search was suspended in June 2018 due to deteriorating weather conditions.
Ocean Infinity — Renewed Search
March 2025 – January 2026After years of negotiation, Ocean Infinity returned under a new no-find-no-fee contract signed in early 2025. Operating across two seasonal phases, they covered an additional 140,000+ km² including areas prioritised by independent researchers based on updated drift modelling and satellite analysis. The search concluded on 23 January 2026 without findings.
Ocean Infinity — Extension
July 2026 – June 2027Malaysia's cabinet approved a 12-month extension on 29 June 2026. Ocean Infinity will return to search the remaining approximately 7,428 km² of the defined priority search area not yet covered. Vessels are expected to redeploy between November 2026 and April 2027 during the southern hemisphere summer weather window.
Why Hasn't It Been Found?
Extreme depth
The search zone sits above a seabed that reaches 4,000–6,000 metres depth. At these depths, AUVs must be operated slowly and carefully, and the terrain includes rough ridges and volcanic formations.
Weather windows
The southern Indian Ocean is one of the most hostile maritime environments on Earth. High seas, gales, and swell limit operations to roughly 5–6 months per year.
Uncertain end point
The Inmarsat data constrains the final position to a 7th arc spanning thousands of kilometres. Analysts disagree on the exact end point, meaning the wreckage may be in an area not yet prioritised for search.
No flight recorder signals
The underwater locator beacons on the flight recorders have a battery life of 30 days. By the time any search vessel reached the search zone, the pinger signals had long since expired.