Families of MH370 victims call for search extension, 12 years after Malaysia Airlines jet vanished

"The Boeing 777 was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew when it vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March, 2014, becoming one of the world's enduring aviation mysteries. Multiple search operations for the plane have been conducted in the southern Indian Ocean since then but all have proved fruitless."

"Malaysia's Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said on Sunday, however, that operations had not yielded any findings so far, after two search phases covering 28 days and about 7,571 sq km (2,923 sq miles) of seabed. Operations were periodically disrupted by weather and sea conditions, with the second phase ending on 23 January."

"Voice370, a group representing families of those onboard, said it was unlikely for Ocean Infinity to resume the search before its contract ends in June, due to the coming winter months in the southern hemisphere and deteriorating sea conditions. It urged the government to grant any request for Ocean Infinity to extend its agreement."

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, remaining one of aviation's greatest mysteries. Malaysia contracted deep-sea exploration firm Ocean Infinity in March 2023 under a no-find, no-fee agreement worth $70 million if wreckage is located. Two search phases covering 7,571 square kilometers of southern Indian Ocean seabed over 28 days yielded no findings, with operations disrupted by adverse weather conditions. The contract expires in June. Families represented by Voice370 urge the government to extend Ocean Infinity's contract and expand similar terms to other exploration firms, arguing that winter conditions make resumption unlikely before contract expiration.

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