2.9m Yuan Each for 8 MH370 Victim Families: Beijing Court

Beijing's Chaoyang District People's Court on December 5 ruled in favor of families of passengers who went missing on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, awarding each family more than 2.9 million yuan (US$410,200) in compensation, according to a court announcement on Monday.

The court said that from 2016 onward, 75 relatives of missing passengers filed lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines and other related entities, demanding compensation for losses and the establishment of a search-and-rescue fund. In total, 78 cases were registered.

According to the court's findings, Flight MH370 – a Boeing aircraft operated by Malaysia Airlines – disappeared on March 8, 2014, at 1:22am Malaysia time during its flight to Beijing. The Malaysian government formally declared the flight lost on January 19, 2015, and presumed all 239 passengers and crew dead.

The court said it facilitated multiple rounds of mediation during the proceedings. Forty-seven cases were withdrawn after the families and defendants reached settlement agreements.

The rulings issued this week cover eight cases involving eight passengers who have already been declared dead through the required legal procedures.

Citing the Montreal Convention – an international treaty that sets liability and compensation rules for airlines in cases of passenger injury or death – and relevant Chinese laws, the court ordered Malaysia Airlines and related entities to compensate each set of plaintiffs with more than 2.9 million yuan, covering death compensation, funeral expenses, emotional-distress damages, and other losses.

The court added that 23 cases remain in the trial process because the families have not yet applied for – or have not completed – legal procedures to declare the passengers deceased.