In a landmark ruling, a Beijing court has mandated Malaysia Airlines to pay approximately 2.9 million yuan ($409,813) to each of eight families who lost relatives in the mysterious disappearance of Flight MH370. The first-instance judgment delivered on Monday represents a significant development in the decade-long legal battle surrounding one of aviation’s most perplexing tragedies.
The compensation award comes as Malaysian authorities announced the imminent resumption of search operations for the missing aircraft. Malaysia’s transport ministry confirmed that marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity will recommence seabed exploration on December 30, committing to 55 days of intermittent search activities in the area deemed most likely to contain the aircraft’s remains.
The ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard. The Boeing 777’s disappearance triggered the most extensive and costly search operation in aviation history, yet the aircraft’s main wreckage has never been located. Among those on board, approximately two-thirds were Chinese citizens, with the remainder comprising passengers from Malaysia, France, Australia, Indonesia, India, the United States, Ukraine, Canada, and other nations.
The legal proceedings involved 78 separate cases filed in 2016 by families of 75 passengers against Malaysia Airlines and its parent company Malaysia Airlines Berhad. Through court-mediated negotiations, 47 cases reached settlement agreements and were subsequently withdrawn. The recent judgment addresses eight cases where passengers had been legally declared deceased, while 23 cases remain pending judicial review for families who haven’t completed legal death declaration procedures.
The court determined the compensation amount in accordance with the Montreal Convention and relevant Chinese legislation, encompassing death compensation, funeral expenses, mental anguish damages, and associated costs. Malaysian authorities emphasized their continued commitment to “providing closure to the affected families” through both the ongoing search efforts and the legal resolution process.