After more than 10 months, Malaysia declares MH370 an ‘accident’

Jacquita Gonzales, wife of MH370 flight attendant Patrick Gomes, says families of victims on board the Malaysia Airlines flight, which has been missing since March 8, 2014, are angry after the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) cancelled a press conference in Putrajaya today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, January 29, 2015.

Malaysia today declared that flight MH370 was lost in an accident, killing all 239 passengers and crew members on board.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.

Director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said today the government acknowledged that the declaration would be difficult for the families and loved ones to consider, much less accept.

“It is, nonetheless, important that families try to resume normal lives, or as normal a life as may be possible after this sudden loss. Without in any way intending to diminish the feelings of the families, it is hoped that this declaration will enable the families to obtain the assistance they need, in particular through the compensation process,” he said.

Azharuddin read the statement live on air and the declaration is available on the DCA website.

- TMI