Flight MH370 disappears
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 operating Kuala Lumpur → Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew, disappears from air traffic control tracking less than an hour after takeoff.
Read the cited reference ↗Interactive timeline / MH370
The disappearance.
The continuing search.
Move through the flight record and the years of searching. Dates, source types, and uncertainties remain visible.
8 March 2014 / The flight
A sequence of known records.
MYT times refer to 8 March. In UTC, the first four milestones fall on 7 March; the final exchange falls on 8 March.
00:41 MYT
Departure from Kuala Lumpur
MH370 departed on its scheduled service to Beijing.
Malaysia MOT · Investigation archive ↗ · ATSB · Search investigation ↗
2014 onward / The wider chronology
The record across the years.
A chronology also records changing information.
Earlier entries retain their cited references, including secondary timelines. A contemporary announcement is not always the final investigative conclusion. Source type is labelled for each event.
- 8 March 2014
01 / Secondary reference - 8 March 2014 (morning)
02 / Secondary reference Search and rescue is initiated
The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) is activated and search-and-rescue begins in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand near the last known ATC contact area.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 8 March 2014 (later)
03 / Secondary reference Malaysia Airlines issues first press statement
Malaysia Airlines announces the aircraft is missing and that search and rescue has been initiated; passenger and crew family notification efforts begin and the manifest is released.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 8 March 2014
04 / Secondary reference Malaysian military radar review begins
After the public announcement, the Royal Malaysian Air Force reviews military radar data and later determines an unidentified aircraft (later assessed as MH370) crossed the Malay Peninsula and was tracked until it left radar range over the Andaman Sea.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 8 March 2014
05 / Secondary reference Investigation teams mobilize; Inmarsat data is shared
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board sends investigators; Inmarsat provides data regarding satellite communications in response to a request from SITA (the datalink provider).
Read the cited reference ↗ - 9 March 2014
06 / Secondary reference Search expands; Andaman Sea focus increases
By day’s end, dozens of aircraft and vessels from multiple nations participate. Thailand shifts search focus toward the Andaman Sea at Malaysia’s request, amid indications the aircraft may have turned back.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 9 March 2014
07 / Secondary reference INTERPOL confirms stolen passport use
INTERPOL confirms stolen Austrian and Italian passports were in its database and had not been queried. Early terrorism speculation is raised, but officials say no links are found.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 10 March 2014
08 / Secondary reference Malaysia confirms a “turn back”
The Royal Malaysian Air Force confirms the aircraft made a turn back from its planned route.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 9–11 March 2014
09 / Secondary reference Inmarsat analyzes satellite data; two-arc concept emerges
Inmarsat staff analyze satellite communications data and determine the aircraft likely continued flying for several hours, producing information consistent with two possible end-of-flight “arc” corridors.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 11 March 2014
10 / Secondary reference Stolen-passport passengers identified as migrants
Malaysian police state the two passengers using stolen passports are Iranian men believed to be migrants; INTERPOL says evidence increasingly points away from terrorism.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 14 March 2014
11 / Secondary reference Inmarsat publicly acknowledges recorded transmissions
Inmarsat publicly acknowledges the satellite network recorded transmissions from the aircraft for several hours after it disappeared from ATC tracking.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 15 March 2014
12 / Secondary reference Malaysia PM outlines satellite link and two corridors
Malaysia’s Prime Minister states the aircraft remained in contact with Inmarsat for hours after being lost by ATC and describes two possible corridors (northwest and south into the Indian Ocean).
Read the cited reference ↗ - 17 March 2014
13 / Secondary reference Australia agrees to lead southern corridor search
Australia agrees to coordinate the search along the southern corridor in the southern Indian Ocean and issues a shipping broadcast requesting assistance.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 18 March 2014
14 / Secondary reference First aerial search in southern Indian Ocean by Australia
Australia conducts its first aerial search in the southern Indian Ocean in an area determined by U.S. NTSB analysis.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 20 March 2014
15 / Secondary reference Satellite imagery suggests possible floating objects
Australia announces satellite imagery appears to show two large objects floating in the ocean within the search region.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 26–29 March 2014
16 / Secondary reference Search zones shift; international investigation panel planned
Satellite images and evolving analysis lead to changes in the search area. Malaysia announces an international panel will be formed to investigate the incident.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 9 April 2014
17 / Secondary reference Malaysia submits preliminary report to ICAO
Malaysia submits a preliminary report to ICAO calling for improved tracking technology for commercial aircraft.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 10 April 2014
18 / Secondary reference Possible ULB (pinger) detection reported (later deemed unlikely)
A sonobuoy deployment reports a possible underwater locator beacon signal; officials later state it is unlikely to be related.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 13–14 April 2014
19 / Secondary reference Oil slick tested; Bluefin-21 deployed for seabed scanning
An oil slick near possible detections is tested and found not to be jet fuel or hydraulic fluid. With locator beacon batteries nearing end-of-life, Bluefin-21 AUV scanning begins for seafloor sonar survey near the detection area.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 28 April 2014
20 / Secondary reference Surface search ends; focus shifts to underwater
The surface search concludes after weeks of operations; efforts concentrate on underwater survey and analysis.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 28 May 2014
21 / Secondary reference Early seabed sonar phase ends without locating debris
Seafloor sonar survey efforts conclude for this phase without finding debris attributable to MH370.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 6 October 2014
22 / Secondary reference Underwater search commences
The underwater search begins with multiple vessels participating across the defined priority areas.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 8 October 2014
23 / Secondary reference ATSB releases updated satellite analysis report
ATSB releases an updated analysis of satellite communications suggesting the most likely location is south of a previously identified priority area.
Read the cited reference ↗ - January 2015
24 / Secondary reference Malaysia declares Flight 370 an accident; interim report released
Malaysia declares the event an accident under the Chicago Convention and issues an interim report focused on factual information.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 29 July 2015
25 / Secondary reference Flaperon discovered on Réunion
Marine debris resembling an aircraft component is found on Réunion; it is later confirmed as a Boeing 777 flaperon linked to MH370.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 5 August 2015
26 / Secondary reference Malaysia confirms debris is from Flight 370
Malaysia’s Prime Minister confirms the discovered flaperon is from Flight 370; subsequent confirmations follow from investigators and authorities.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 17 January 2017
27 / Secondary reference Underwater search is suspended
After searching a large area of the southern Indian Ocean without locating the wreckage, the underwater search is officially suspended.
Read the cited reference ↗ - January 2018
28 / Secondary reference Ocean Infinity launches a new search (no find, no fee)
A private search by Ocean Infinity begins over a newly defined search area; it ends months later without success and data is donated to seabed mapping efforts.
Read the cited reference ↗ - March 2019
29 / Secondary reference Malaysia states willingness to review credible new proposals
Malaysia indicates it will review credible leads or proposals for a renewed search.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 6 March 2022
30 / Secondary reference Ocean Infinity signals readiness to resume search pending approval
Ocean Infinity expresses commitment to resuming the search in a future window, pending Malaysian government approval.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 8 March 2023
31 / Secondary reference Malaysia says it will not “close the book” on MH370
Malaysia’s Transport Minister reiterates the case is not closed and future searches may proceed with new credible information.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 2 May 2024
32 / Secondary reference Ocean Infinity submits a new search proposal
Ocean Infinity submits a proposal to Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport for a renewed search effort.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 20 December 2024
33 / Secondary reference Malaysia approves a new “no find, no fee” search agreement
Malaysia approves a renewed search covering a targeted area in the southern Indian Ocean under a “no find, no fee” arrangement.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 25 February 2025
34 / Secondary reference Ocean Infinity resumes the search
Malaysia’s Transport Minister confirms Ocean Infinity has resumed search operations.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 3 April 2025
35 / Secondary reference Search is suspended due to seasonal conditions
The search is temporarily suspended due to seasonal weather, with plans to resume in a later window.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 3 December 2025
36 / Secondary reference Malaysia confirms a planned resumption window
Malaysia issues an official statement confirming search operations are scheduled to resume on 30 December 2025 for a defined operational period.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 8 December 2025
37 / Secondary reference December 2025: reported compensation rulings for eight MH370 families
A dated record of the December 2025 Beijing compensation announcement, with later appeal coverage linked separately from the safety investigation.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 23 January 2026
38 / Official / primary Ocean Infinity concludes renewed search without findings
The second contractual phase ended on 23 January. Malaysia’s later official update records about 7,571 km² surveyed under the 2025 agreement. Ocean Infinity’s 140,000 km² figure is cumulative since 2018.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 10 March 2026
39 / Independent research / commentary March 2026: an independent proposal to examine an acoustic candidate near Java
Victor Iannello highlighted Ed Anderson’s proposed acoustic candidate near Java in March 2026. The proposed association with MH370 remains unproven.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 29 June 2026
40 / Official / primary Malaysia extends search agreement with Ocean Infinity until June 2027
Malaysia’s Minister of Transport announced a twelve-month extension through 30 June 2027. This is a contractual record, not live vessel tracking.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 17 July 2026
41 / Independent research / commentary July 2026 hydroacoustic reporting: older recordings, renewed discussion
Understand the July 2026 discussion of Jean-Yves Royer’s hydroacoustic work, its older data, and why it is not confirmation of an MH370 wreck location.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 28 July 2026
42 / Secondary reference July 2026: Beijing hearing in MH370 families’ compensation appeal
AFP reported a Beijing appeal hearing on 28 July 2026, as relatives sought answers beyond compensation. This entry distinguishes reporting from a judgment.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 5 October 2026
43 / Independent research / commentary October 2026 commentary examines assumptions about the remaining search area
A dated research-watch note on Jeff Wise and Aaron Murphy’s October 2026 search-area discussion, clearly separated from official search boundaries.
Read the cited reference ↗ - 17 October 2026
44 / Secondary reference October 2026: reporting on continuing support for MH370 families
Bernama’s 17 October 2026 report examines continuing SOCSO support for eligible MH370 dependants and the families’ ongoing practical needs.
Read the cited reference ↗
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