Overview
- The Malaysian Cabinet approved the one-year extension on Monday, June 29, 2026, extending the contract from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027 so Ocean Infinity can finish its assigned search zone.
- The deal keeps the conditional 'no find, no fee' arrangement under which Ocean Infinity would be paid up to $70 million only if it locates the wreckage.
- The extension specifically covers the remaining 7,428.54 square kilometres in the southern Indian Ocean that previous searches did not complete.
- Malaysia’s transport minister said the schedule accounts for Ocean Infinity’s planned temporary redeployment of key search assets between November 2026 and April 2027 to meet other commercial commitments.
- Families of passengers have pushed for clearer briefings after earlier searches, including Ocean Infinity’s 2018 effort and the two-stage 2025 operation, failed to find the main wreckage and recovered only a few confirmed debris pieces.