Relatives of dozens of Chinese passengers who died when a Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared almost 10 years ago on Monday called for a new investigation as a Beijing court began hearing their fresh appeal for compensation.
The MH370 jet vanished on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people mostly from China, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
More than 40 families have filed lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines, the aircraft manufacturer Boeing, engine maker Rolls Royce and Allianz insurance group.
According to a lawyer, ZHAN QIHUAI , families’ litigation requests focus on compensation and finding the truth behind the flight’s disappearance.
Hardly any trace of the plane was found in a 120,000-square kilometre (46,000-square mile) Indian Ocean search zone, with only some pieces of debris picked up.
The Australian-led operation, the largest in aviation history, was suspended in January 2017.
The families on Monday released an open letter addressed to Malaysian Prime Minister, ANWAR IBRAHIM, calling for a new search for the missing aircraft on a “No find, No fee” basis.
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”.
They asked for “effective communication” with the Malaysian government to kick off a new hunt.
Outside the court, many relatives were on the verge of tears as they recounted stories of their loved ones, some holding pieces of paper saying “restart the search” and “open, fair, impartial”.
Malaysia’s transport ministry and Malaysia Airlines both declined to comment on the hearings.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman WANG WENBIN said on Monday that Beijing “attaches great importance to the follow-up work” into MH370’s disappearance and “hopes that all parties will continue to maintain close communication”.
It is unclear what jurisdiction the Chinese court has to enforce the claims for compensation against the defendants.
The families of more than 110 other passengers have already reached a settlement with the defendants and received between 2.5 million and 3 million yuan.
Gathering outside the court on Monday despite freezing temperatures, relatives were keen to talk to journalists.
JIANG HUI, whose mother was on flight MH370, said the opening of the hearing was “very comforting, and it is a turning point”.