Malaysia extends search for MH370 for another year, keeping families' hopes alive

Malaysia has extended its search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 for another year, keeping the effort focused on locating wreckage in the southern Indian Ocean. The Malaysian Cabinet approved extending a “no-find, no-fee” contract with marine robotics company Ocean Infinity until June 30 of next year, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Monday. The extension allows Ocean Infinity to complete the remaining 7,428.54 square kilometers (2,868 square miles) of the search area, after temporarily redeploying key assets to other commercial contracts. MH370 vanished from radar on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with satellite data indicating the aircraft turned south. Ocean Infinity has already conducted a 2018 private search without results, and Malaysia approved a prior renewal last year for a 15,000-square-kilometer (5,800-square-mile) site. Ocean Infinity will be paid $70 million only if wreckage is found.