The Chaoyang District People's Court in Beijing, China, announced today that compensation for the families of eight victims on flight MH370 is intended to cover funeral expenses, emotional distress, and other damages. Each family is expected to receive over 2.9 million yuan (more than 410,000 USD).

The court also noted that 47 other lawsuits were withdrawn after families reached settlement agreements with Malaysia Airlines and its international branch.

Currently, 23 cases are pending. According to the court, the families of these passengers "have not yet filed for a declaration of death or have not completed the procedures for a declaration of death," meaning they are still legally considered missing persons. The eight passengers for whom the court ordered Malaysia Airlines to pay compensation have all been declared deceased.

Relatives of victims in Beijing cried out after receiving news that flight MH370 crashed into the Indian Ocean in 3/2024. Photo: AFP

Malaysia Airlines' Boeing 777, carrying 239 people, vanished on 8/3/2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Two-thirds of the passengers were Chinese nationals, with the remainder including citizens from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, India, the US, the Netherlands, and France.

Despite the largest search operation in aviation history, the aircraft has not been found. Malaysia's Ministry of Transport announced on 3/12 that the search for flight MH370 would resume in late december, to be carried out by marine exploration company Ocean Infinity.

The most recent search in the Southern Indian Ocean was suspended in april due to "unfavorable seasonal conditions."

Thanh Tam (According to AFP, Reuters)