Mystery of MH370: Beijing court grapples with compensation claims

Court hearings regarding compensation for relatives of the passengers who perished aboard a Malaysia Airlines flight are currently underway in China's capital city. The plane vanished mysteriously during a flight to Beijing in 2014.

The Boeing 777, assigned the flight number MH370 and operated by Malaysia Airlines, was carrying 12 crew members and 227 passengers. Among the passengers were over 150 Chinese citizens. It departed from the international airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bound for Beijing. Unfortunately, the plane never arrived at its intended destination.

Numerous theories about the occurrence surfaced, speculating on possible technical failure, a hijacking attempt, or even deliberate actions by the crew. The precise reason for the plane's diversion from its original route remains unidentified to date. Despite intensive search efforts spanning several months, no wreckage was found. Only fragments of the plane washed ashore along Africa's coasts and on islands in the Indian Ocean. These fragments were either confirmed or suspected to belong to the lost Boeing, according to Reuters.

According to the ChinaDaily portal, more than 40 family members of the missing passengers attended a hearing yesterday in the People's Court of the Chaoyang District, Beijing. The hearings are scheduled to continue through December 6th. Reports from Chinese media indicate that the families are demanding civil compensation, ranging from 10 to 80 million yuan for each victim, which is equivalent to approximately $1.57 to $12.57 million.

Compensation has already been awarded to 110 relatives of the passengers of flight MH370. As a result of reaching a settlement with the defendants, each family received between 2.5 to 3 million yuan, approximately $393,000 to $471,000. The list of defendants in this case includes Malaysia Airlines, aircraft manufacturer Boeing, the engine manufacturer, and an insurance company.