New search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 unsuccessful

A renewed deep-sea search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been unsuccessful.

The Boeing 777 disappeared from radar shortly after departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport en route to Beijing - 12 years ago today.

In a statement, Malaysia's Air Accident Investigation Bureau said 28 days of searching, covering more than 2,900 square miles (7,500 sq km), had yielded no new findings.

A company called Ocean Infinity had been given permission to scour the Indian Ocean on a "no find, no fee" basis.

The agreement meant it would only be paid $70m (£52m) if the wreckage was located.

Malaysian officials say they "remain committed to keeping the families informed and will continue to provide updates as appropriate".

Voice370 - a group representing the families of those who were on board the flight - have urged the government to extend its contract with Ocean Infinity.

The search, which happened in two phases, were periodically disrupted by poor weather and conditions at sea. It concluded on 23 January.

However, campaigners fear a third phase won't begin before June, when the current contract ends, because the winter months are approaching in the southern hemisphere.

Voice370 said: "A simple addendum extending the contract period without altering the core terms of the agreement would allow the search to continue without delay."

The group added that other exploration firms should be given the opportunity to search on this "no find, no fee" basis.

MH370 was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members when it vanished, becoming one of the world's most enduring aviation mysteries.

In 2018, a report by Malaysian investigators drew no conclusion about what happened, but did not rule out the possibility that the aircraft was deliberately taken off course.