BEIJING – The Chinese relatives of the passengers on the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have called for a new search of the missing plane, as a Beijing court begins hearing their compensation appeal.
On Monday, the families released an open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, calling for a new search for the missing aircraft on a “no find, no fee” basis, AFP reported.
The letter expressed the families’ willingness to invest their own resources or collaborate with individuals and companies for an independent search, urging effective communication with the Malaysian government.
“Our family members hope to search for flight MH370 on our own,” the letter said, adding “family members are willing to invest their own money or cooperate with capable individuals and companies”.
Outside the court, many relatives, holding signs that read “restart the search” and “open, fair, impartial,” recounted stories of their loved ones.
Bao Lanfang, who lost her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in the disaster, emphasised her desire for truth rather than monetary compensation.
“Personally, I do not care about the monetary compensation,” the 71-year-old said.
“What I want is that Malaysia Airlines gives me the truth. What happened to our loved ones?
“What I want now is for them to resume the search and the investigation.”
Malaysia’s Transport Ministry and Malaysia Airlines both declined to comment on the ongoing hearings.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin expressed Beijing’s commitment to the follow-up work on MH370’s disappearance, hoping for continued close communication among all parties.
Lawyer Zhang Qihuai told CCTV that the families’ legal requests primarily focus on compensation and uncovering the truth behind the plane’s disappearance.
Despite an extensive search in a 120,000 sq km Indian Ocean zone, hardly any trace of the plane was found, leading to the suspension of the Australian-led operation in January 2017.
Hearing to last until December 5
The hearing at the Chaoyang District People’s Court, which is expected to last until December 5, will see the families suing Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, Allianz and Rolls-Royce, with varying claims.
Most of the claims were filed more than seven years ago.
The Chinese families who opted to settle with Malaysian Airlines received 2.5 million yuan (approximately RM1.64 million in today’s conversion rate) in compensation.
Some of the families also claimed that the aviation disaster plunged them into financial and emotional distress for nearly 10 years.
Of the 239 passengers, 153 were Chinese nationals who were on their way to Beijing when the plane deviated from its flight path and disappeared over the Indian Ocean.
However, it is unclear what powers the Beijing court has on the companies even though Malaysia Airlines, Boeing and Roll-Royce have offices in China.
Previously, US courts dismissed similar cases brought by some of the families – saying it should be dealt with in Malaysia.
In 2018, Malaysian authorities concluded that the investigation team was “unable to determine the real cause of the disappearance of MH370” and that “human interference was more likely the cause of the plane’s disappearance than plane malfunction”.
Over the years, pieces of apparent debris were found on the shores of some islands in the southern Indian Ocean and off the coast of Africa. – November 27, 2023