Still tormented: Chinese MH370 relatives file lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines day before second anniversary of plane’s disappearance
Despite making claims for wrongful deaths of their loved ones, many Chinese relatives consistently express beliefs that the missing passengers are still alive
Relatives of a dozen Chinese passengers aboard missing flight MH370 filed suits against Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, Rolls Royce and others on Monday – the day before the second anniversary of its disappearance and a legal deadline to do so.
The date March 8 is like a knife that has stabbed us once again. I chose to prosecute in order to have my child safely returned to me. I’m convinced that the plane didn’t crash into the Indian Ocean, that it landed somewhere and that my child is safe, living on this earth.
Packed into a small office at the Beijing Rail Transportation Court, which has been designated to handle MH370 cases, they held manila folders with litigation papers in their hands.
Several wiped away tears, turning to borrow tissues from neighbours, before depositing their documents with court officials.
Gao Xianying, 65, who lost her daughter, son-in-law and three-year-old granddaughter on the flight, said: “Successfully filing the case is the next step in finding my family. We’re a step closer to demanding the truth from Malaysia Airlines; there’s more hope than before.”
The Boeing 777 aircraft, with 239 people – including 153 Chinese citizens – on board, vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, and authorities said it went down in the southern Indian Ocean.
Even while suing for the wrongful deaths of their loved ones, many Chinese next of kin consistently express beliefs that the passengers are still alive, perhaps being held at an unknown location – even though a piece of the plane washed up on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion and other potential debris was found in Mozambique.
Under international agreements, families have two years to sue over air accidents. Lawyer Zhang Qihuai, whose Lanpeng firm represents the group filing suit on Monday, said many were “deeply conflicted” over the decision to go to court.