A U.S. exploration firm has begun searching for Malaysia Airline flight MH370, which veered far off course and disappeared on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board, the chief of Malaysia's aviation regulator said Tuesday.

Ocean Infinity Ltd.'s 65-crew-member Seabed Constructor vessel commenced the search in the southern Indian Ocean by launching a number of autonomous underwater vehicles, or AUVs, early Monday, Department of Civil Aviation Director General Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said in a statement.

The Malaysian government signed a "no cure, no fee" deal with Ocean Infinity on Jan. 10 wherein the deep-sea exploration firm would be only paid between $20 million and $70 million if it succeeds in locating the debris field or the flight data and cockpit voice recorder within 90 days.