GROK:
Current Status of the MH370 Search by Ocean Infinity
As of February 9, 2026, the ongoing search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 conducted by Ocean Infinity appears to have entered a suspension phase rather than a full abandonment.
The effort, which resumed on December 30, 2025, under a "no find, no fee" contract with the Malaysian government, was designed as an intermittent 55-day operation focusing on a targeted 15,000 square kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean.
This area was selected based on refined data analysis, including potential glide scenarios beyond the 7th arc. The vessel Armada 86 05 completed Phase 3 of the search on January 23, 2026, covering the southeast portion outside the 7th arc, with no significant findings reported.
Since then, the ship has departed the search zone, initially heading to Fremantle, Australia, for resupply, and is now en route to Pago Pago in American Samoa, with other support vessels (e.g., Armada 86 04) redirecting to ports like Mauritius.
This movement has fueled public perception of an "abandonment," but sources indicate it's a temporary halt, similar to a previous suspension in April 2025 due to adverse weather.
The contract spans up to 18 months, allowing for phased operations adapted to seasonal conditions in the southern Indian Ocean, where rough seas and high waves (often exceeding 3 meters) make deployments challenging.
Only about 7,236 square kilometers were scanned in the 2025-2026 efforts so far—less than half the planned area—due to these interruptions.
Ocean Infinity's technology, including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), has been upgraded since the unsuccessful 2018 search, but progress remains slow compared to prior campaigns. Confusion Over Lack of Official Announcements
The absence of formal statements from Ocean Infinity or the Malaysian Ministry of Transport (MOT) has indeed sparked confusion and speculation, as noted in aviation forums, Reddit discussions, and recent X posts.
Vessel tracking data (e.g., via AIS) shows the Armada 86 05's departure, leading enthusiasts to interpret it as an early pullout, especially since the 55-day window hadn't fully elapsed by late January.
However, no breakthroughs or debris were reported, and the search inside the 7th arc (associated with alternative scenarios like a failed diversion) remains unexamined. Pieced-Together Reasons for the Suspension and Silence
Drawing from a range of sources—including official documents, expert analyses, media reports, and community discussions—here are the most substantiated explanations for the current status and lack of communication.
These represent a balanced view from stakeholders like independent investigators, aviation experts, and government-aligned updates, acknowledging biases in speculative forums (e.g., conspiracy theories) while prioritizing factual timelines:
The effort, which resumed on December 30, 2025, under a "no find, no fee" contract with the Malaysian government, was designed as an intermittent 55-day operation focusing on a targeted 15,000 square kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean.
This area was selected based on refined data analysis, including potential glide scenarios beyond the 7th arc. The vessel Armada 86 05 completed Phase 3 of the search on January 23, 2026, covering the southeast portion outside the 7th arc, with no significant findings reported.
Since then, the ship has departed the search zone, initially heading to Fremantle, Australia, for resupply, and is now en route to Pago Pago in American Samoa, with other support vessels (e.g., Armada 86 04) redirecting to ports like Mauritius.
This movement has fueled public perception of an "abandonment," but sources indicate it's a temporary halt, similar to a previous suspension in April 2025 due to adverse weather.
The contract spans up to 18 months, allowing for phased operations adapted to seasonal conditions in the southern Indian Ocean, where rough seas and high waves (often exceeding 3 meters) make deployments challenging.
Only about 7,236 square kilometers were scanned in the 2025-2026 efforts so far—less than half the planned area—due to these interruptions.
Ocean Infinity's technology, including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), has been upgraded since the unsuccessful 2018 search, but progress remains slow compared to prior campaigns. Confusion Over Lack of Official Announcements
The absence of formal statements from Ocean Infinity or the Malaysian Ministry of Transport (MOT) has indeed sparked confusion and speculation, as noted in aviation forums, Reddit discussions, and recent X posts.
Vessel tracking data (e.g., via AIS) shows the Armada 86 05's departure, leading enthusiasts to interpret it as an early pullout, especially since the 55-day window hadn't fully elapsed by late January.
However, no breakthroughs or debris were reported, and the search inside the 7th arc (associated with alternative scenarios like a failed diversion) remains unexamined. Pieced-Together Reasons for the Suspension and Silence
Drawing from a range of sources—including official documents, expert analyses, media reports, and community discussions—here are the most substantiated explanations for the current status and lack of communication.
These represent a balanced view from stakeholders like independent investigators, aviation experts, and government-aligned updates, acknowledging biases in speculative forums (e.g., conspiracy theories) while prioritizing factual timelines:
- Weather and Operational Challenges: The primary trigger for the phase's end was persistent stormy conditions, with wave heights making AUV deployments unsafe or ineffective. Sources suggest a potential resumption in March or April 2026 when seas calm, aligning with the intermittent nature of the contract. No announcement may be forthcoming because this is viewed as a routine pause, not a failure.
- Strategic Phasing and Contract Flexibility: The 18-month agreement allows for crew rotations, resupplies, and adjustments without fixed end dates. With no findings in the prioritized outer-arc area, resources are being redirected (e.g., to other Ocean Infinity projects), but the MH370 mission isn't terminated. Silence could stem from avoiding premature declarations until data analysis is complete or a new phase is confirmed.
- Sensitivity to Families and Public Expectations: MH370 involves 239 victims' families, and Malaysian officials have historically been cautious with updates to prevent distress or false hope. Without substantive results, an announcement might amplify speculation (e.g., about alternative crash sites like northern Sumatra, as floated in X discussions). Experts note that governments and firms like Ocean Infinity prioritize private briefings over public releases in such cases.
- No Breakthroughs to Report: Little new ground was covered since weather halted progress, so there's minimal incentive for an update. Ocean Infinity's website and the Malaysian MOT's press page show no recent entries on this, suggesting they only communicate milestones.
- Broader Speculation and External Factors: Community sources highlight "unusual behavior" in vessel movements (e.g., revisiting areas), but this likely reflects ROV inspections rather than abandonment. Some X users speculate about geopolitical issues or redirected efforts (e.g., to avoid missile tests), but these lack evidence. Independent analysts argue the search won't fully end until the inner-arc area is scanned, implying this is not a permanent stop.
