Nearly a decade after the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Chinese relatives of the passengers have initiated a legal battle for compensation. In a significant development, a Beijing court commenced hearings on Monday to address the claims of the families. The flight, carrying over 150 Chinese passengers, vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, sparking one of the most baffling aviation mysteries in history.
The relatives are seeking compensation from Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, and Allianz insurance group, among others. The claims range from 10 million to 80 million yuan ($1.4 million to $11.2 million) per claimant, as reported by state media. Despite the lack of definitive answers on the plane's fate, pieces of debris believed to be from MH370 have been discovered along African coasts and islands in the Indian Ocean.
The case has garnered significant attention, with a heavy police presence noted outside Chaoyang District People's Court in Beijing. Security measures restricted media access, and reporters were cordoned off, unable to interact with the family members. Despite these limitations, some relatives expressed their views post-hearing, emphasizing their desire for renewed search efforts and direct communication with Malaysia Airlines, alongside psychological counseling. For many, these demands hold greater significance than monetary compensation.
The disappearance of MH370 not only remains a source of profound grief but also a subject of various theories, including mechanical failure, hijacking, or deliberate actions by cockpit personnel. The Boeing 777, believed to have crashed into the Southern Ocean south of India, has eluded discovery, despite extensive search efforts. The plane's disappearance has particularly resonated in Beijing, where citizens held daily briefings and vigils for the missing.
The lawsuit's details are somewhat unclear, but it appears to center around the airline's alleged failure to adequately respond following the plane's disappearance from air traffic control. Relatives have been coordinating online, with expectations that the hearings will continue into mid-December.
This legal pursuit in China contrasts with similar cases in the United States, which were dismissed on the grounds that they fell under the jurisdiction of the Malaysian legal system. This case also occurs amidst ongoing investigations into another aviation tragedy, the crash of a China Eastern Airlines jetliner in 2022, which resulted in 132 fatalities.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the world watches with anticipation, hoping that the families of MH370's passengers will find some measure of solace and closure in their long-awaited quest for justice.
