Summary
- Chinese court hearings for payment claims related to the MH370 tragedy will begin this month.
- The fate of MH370 and its passengers remains unknown, with various theories but no conclusive determination.
- The search for MH370 was called off in 2018, but evidence such as debris has provided some insight into the possible cause of its dissapearance.
Relatives of the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) may receive compensation as a Chinese court is set to hold hearings for payment claims later this month. A representative for the families reportedly disclosed the news on Friday.
It comes after the flight vanished over the Southern Ocean south of India nearly a decade ago. While various theories have surfaced, the fate of the Boeing 777-200ER and the passengers onboard has not been conclusively determined.
Bringing justice
Jiang Hui’s mother was on MH370, according to ABC News. After receiving a notice, he wrote on social media that court hearings would begin on November 27 and continue until mid-December. Hui expressed his hope for justice for the relatives of those lost.
“I hope China’s laws can bring justice to the families who have not received a penny of compensation or an apology in the past 10 years. The disappearance of 239 lives, including 154 Chinese people, is a shame.”
Since the cause of the aircraft’s disappearance continues to remain a mystery, the exact financial obligations Malaysia Airlines may have are unclear. So far, no charges have been brought against the carrier and flight crew, but families have reportedly said they wish for compensation, considering the tragedy caused financial challenges.
According to ABC News, China’s legal system is primarily blurred and gives a broad scope of freedom for judges to issue legal or financial penalties when criminal punishment cannot be determined. Outline postings indicate that the case is expected to be heard at the Chaoyang District Intermediary Court in Beijing, but no further information was reportedly available on the court’s website.
Findings over the years
The search for MH370 was called off in 2018 after four years, according to CNN. Since then, researchers have discovered evidence that helps explain the reason for the flight’s unknown fate. Last year, debris that washed up onshore in Madagascar pointed to the theory that MH370 could have been crashed deliberately.
In July, more debris, once dismissed as marine rubble, was confirmed to be from the aircraft’s nose wheel door. Although there have been findings of over 40 debris items, the mystery remains unresolved as the majority of the aircraft has yet to be found.
“Conducting a successful search”
Families of the victims called on the Malaysian government in March to allow Ocean Infinity, a US-based seabed exploration firm, to carry out a new search for the wreckage, according to CNN. When the search was called off in 2018, Malaysia reportedly offered to pay Ocean Infinity $70 million if the firm found the plane, but still, nothing was discovered.
A group of the victims’ relatives, known as Voice370, expressed their confidence in Ocean Infinity’s progress over the last year to conduct a successful search.
“Ocean Infinity, over the last 12 months have made real progress working with many people to further understand… the events in 2014,” the group said in a statement. “Ultimately, this has greatly improved their chances of conducting a successful search.”
Malaysia, China, and Australia ended a two-year-long underwater search in 2017. The hunt cost $135 million, and no traces of the plane were found, CNN reported.
