( CNN ) -- The Bluefin-21 's initial search is nearing its end . As the underwater sonar device plunged into the Indian Ocean , kicking off its 14th mission , authorities are focusing on what they will do if it comes up empty . That outcome would seem likely . The Bluefin has slowly scoured 95 % of the ocean floor that searchers had narrowed down for it . So far , it has found no trace of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 . Anticipation is growing as this phase of the search nears its end , but experts say factors like the depth and terrain of the search area mean that the mission 's completion could be a day to weeks away . If nothing is found , the first step , Australian officials said , may be to expand the search area where the submersible was looking . The underwater search so far has focused on a circle with a 10-kilometer ( 6.2-mile ) radius around the location of a detected `` ping , '' the Joint Agency Coordination Center said . If the Bluefin-21 searches 100 % of the area with nothing to show for it , the underwater search may expand to outside that radius . `` We are currently consulting very closely with our international partners on the best way to continue the search into the future , '' the Australian-based center coordinating the search said in a statement . Forty-nine days since the plane vanished , Malaysian and Australian authorities are mapping out a strategy for a long-term search that could expand to cover a massive area . A U.S. Navy source told CNN on Friday that the current search area is expected to move slightly north if the Bluefin does n't find any wreckage . Specifically , it might shift to encompass a 6-mile radius around where another `` ping '' was detected . And it 's possible the search for the plane -- which disappeared March 8 after leaving Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , for Beijing -- could balloon . Ocean search specialist Rob McCallum thinks it may end up including all 370 miles ( 595 kilometers ) of what authorities believe was the plane 's flight path . `` If the idea is to go more strategic and investigate the entire aircraft flight path , maybe 15 miles or so either side , then you need a more strategic tool . And something like a deep-towed sonar that can provide a very large range indeed -- at the expense of resolution . '' The use of a deep-towed submersible device called the Orion is overdue , said Geoffrey Thomas , managing director of AirlineRatings.com . `` That should be brought in as quickly as possible , again , from the United States . '' Early into mission 13 , Bluefin-21 encountered a software issue which required resetting . The problem was resolved , the Joint Agency Coordination Centre announced . Malaysia 's report . Facing anger from families of Flight 370 passengers , Malaysia 's Prime Minister said Thursday his government will release its preliminary report on the plane 's disappearance . In a TV exclusive with CNN aviation correspondent Richard Quest , Prime Minister Najib Razak told CNN the report will be available to the public next week . He also asked an internal investigation team to look into what other information may be released publicly next week , his office said . Najib discussed why he is not yet officially declaring the flight -- and the 239 people on board -- lost . The report has been sent to the International Civil Aviation Organization , the U.N. body for global aviation , but not yet made available to the public . The U.N. organization said among the safety recommendations in the report is a suggestion by Malaysia that the aviation world needs to look at real-time tracking of commercial aircraft . It 's the same recommendation that was made after the Air France Flight 447 went down in the Atlantic Ocean in 2009 . Skeptical relatives . The Prime Minister 's comments did n't convince Sarah Bajc , whose partner , Philip Wood , was a passenger on the plane . She accused Najib of `` political maneuvering , '' shirking responsibility and deflecting blame . `` I spent most of the morning with my jaw basically scraping the floor , '' Bajc told CNN 's `` AC360Â° . '' Malaysian authorities need to do a better job of communicating with the families and answering their questions during briefings , she said , rather than treating passengers ' loved ones `` as if we are the enemy , as opposed to an interested party in helping to solve this mystery . '' `` Actions speak louder than words , '' she said . `` The briefings are a joke . ... The patience level of the families group is just gone . '' The husband of passenger Chandrika Sharma said he appreciated that the Prime Minister is avoiding declaring the plane lost and admitted that mistakes were made . But he wants to see more from officials . `` At least one can hope this is the beginning of the next few weeks where we can see a lot more transparency , a lot more directness , '' K.S . Narendran told CNN 's `` New Day . '' A committee representing some of the Chinese families have posted 26 questions about the plane 's disappearance on the Chinese social media site Weibo . Malaysia has insisted it has nothing to hide and is working to find answers . The country has not been known as a model of transparency . The same political party has ruled for 50 years , and the media are not completely free . The Malaysian Cabinet has agreed to have an international team investigate the disappearance of Flight 370 , acting Transportation Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said . He also said the team will not be looking into the criminal aspects of the investigation , which remain under the Royal Malaysia Police . Turning to Boeing ? Angry families dissatisfied with responses from Malaysian authorities could turn their attention to the Boeing 777 's manufacturer . Some of the questions the families have , including technical questions , `` we will be bringing directly to Boeing , '' Bajc said . `` Boeing is a publicly traded company in the United States , and that puts them in a position of a little bit more fiduciary responsibility , '' she said . Asked for a response , Boeing sent CNN a statement : `` Our thoughts and deepest sympathies continue to be with the families and loved ones of those aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 . Boeing continues to serve as a technical adviser to the U.S. National Transportation ( Safety ) Board , and in that role we have been an active and engaged party to the investigation . '' `` Boeing has a shareholders meeting next week , '' Bajc said , adding it might be worth trying to get some answers there . What if Flight 370 is never found ? Inside a black box investigation lab . Sad , angry relatives in agonizing limbo . CNN 's Elizabeth Joseph , Mike Ahlers , Sumnima Udas , David Molko , Catherine E. Shoichet and John Berman contributed to this report .
U.S. Navy source : The search should shift slightly north if no wreckage is found . A new report from the National Transportation Safety Board concludes that a Boeing 777 operated by Malaysia Airlines was deliberately flown into the southern Indian Ocean on March 8, killing all 298 people aboard. Submersible has combed 95 % of a search area with no significant results . Malaysia says it will make its report on the missing plane public next week .