My family members and friends,

Many of you have been asking me whether the search for MH370 has recommenced and what the latest updates are. You have perhaps had a passing glance at some headlines, and as it often happens, assumed that I have some unpublished information to offer. At this moment, I have more questions than information. Let me share what I know, what I don’t know and what I puzzle over.

Like many of you, I have looked forward to the resumption of a search ever since Malaysia’s transport minister announced in December 2024 that his government has ‘in principle’ agreed to a new search by Ocean Infinity, the underwater exploration company, and further, that an agreement with the company will follow. Some of you might remember that this company had undertaken a search for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean in 2018 on a ‘no find, no fee’ basis.

With the benefit of additional information and analysis since 2018, experts have recommended additional ‘hot spots’—high probability search areas, based on different assumptions and methods—in the southern Indian Ocean. Malaysia’s government, convinced that there was now ‘credible’ new information to warrant another search for MH370, signaled its readiness to contract with Ocean Infinity for this round of search on a similar ‘no find, no fee’ basis, and for a success fee like in amount to the previous time.

As lay persons, we could be forgiven for assuming that with the benefit of earlier experience, contracting this time around would be quicker. We could be forgiven for thinking that the government would, knowing that weather conditions in the southern Indian Ocean are only conducive for about six months, approximately between Nov/Dec and April/May, hasten the contracting process and ensure that the current ‘season’ is not missed.

As it turned out, negotiations stretched, the government’s lawyers took their time, and another anniversary of the plane’s disappearance went by on 8 March. Ocean Infinity’s search vessel was stationed in the search area, presumably in anticipation of the deal being signed, and to make the best of the time remaining in the season. Yet, there was no deal.

Old doubts about the government’s seriousness resurfaced. As laypersons, it is hard to appreciate the government’s priorities, processes and pace, and square them with its stated intent and public posturing. Just as patience was wearing thin and we were set for disappointment came the news that Malaysia’s cabinet had approved the deal as vetted by its lawyers and there was just the act of formally signing the contract remaining. This was around 20 March 2025. Transport minister Loke, generally seen to be sympathetic to the plight of the MH370 next of kin and their need for answers, probably did some heavy lifting to see the deal through, countering objections and resistance from within his government.

You ask: Has the deal been signed? Has the search commenced formally, in right earnest? Well, not so fast. Bear with me.

On 26 March, Voice370, the MH370 families’ association, announced that the contract has been signed. The news was shared far and wide and was quoted extensively. You could infer from this that Voice370 was a party to the negotiations or signing of the deal, but you would be wrong. You would be reasonable in assuming that, as a matter of public interest, the government would officially announce, through a press conference and/or a press release, the signing and the broad contours of the agreement, including search area coverage, duration of contract, and what constitutes a find. This did not come to pass, for reasons not clear to me. It seems a departure from their earlier efforts to update the families and the public. This has given rise to questions about whether the deal has indeed been inked, and to avoidable speculation.

Within the last few days came another shocker: The search vessel was leaving the search area. A further announcement from Voice370 via social media was made—the search, which officially commenced upon the signing of the contract on 25 March, was suspended as of 28 March due to ‘seasonal weather changes’ and Ocean Infinity’s prior commercial commitments (therefore, the search vessel needed to be elsewhere). Once again, one would have expected the government to formally lead this announcement or follow it up to confirm the news and offer details/clarifications, but nothing came.

In the last day or so, the transport minister, in response to questions, confirmed that the agreement has been signed, but that the search operation has been halted since the season has ended, and will resume at the end of the year. Back in 2018, the search in the southern Indian Ocean by Ocean Infinity’s vessel, Seabed Constructor, continued well into May. Are we seeing an anomalous season that has cut short the search window this year? Was the vessel deployed unsuited to the current sea conditions? You and I have these and more questions. There has been no communication from Ocean Infinity throughout this entire period.

Maybe the past three months or more were meant just to conclude contract negotiations and for Ocean Infinity to complete any preliminary explorations of the search area. It is possible that everyone got excited and foisted unrealistic expectations of rapid contracting and an actual search during this season itself. Of course, you might argue that one can’t be too kind and understanding when the search proposal from Ocean Infinity was first put forth way back in May 2024. Should it have taken so long as to render this a search season of no consequence? I don’t know. It has taken this long!

Announcements by governments, such as the one in December 2024 that I referred to at the start, have a way of setting in motion expectations that become hard to contain or fulfil. On the back of a long wait for the search to resume, the recent weeks have been one of elevated heartbeats followed by a sinking feeling.

I have skipped some details that could have become a distraction from the main story: the resumption of search. I hope you don’t mind that I got carried away here and there, burdening you with detail you didn’t care for, or missed something critical to continuity in the story. This isn’t the first time I am writing on the subject and hopefully, it will not be the last. We will have more opportunities to keep ourselves up to date.

Let me know where this has left you.

Image: ‘Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-2H6ER; 9M-M‘ (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Aero Icarus