Families of missing MH370 plead with Chinese government on third anniversary to continue search

Record ID: 401489

  • Title: Families of missing MH370 plead with Chinese government on third anniversary to continue search
  • Date: 8th March 2017
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MARCH 8, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE VEHICLES PARKED VARIOUS OF CHINESE FAMILY MEMBERS OF MH370 PASSENGER STANDING IN FRONT OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY VARIOUS OF FAMILY MEMBERS BEING MOVED BY PLAINCLOTHES POLICE POLICE STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FATHER OF MH370 PASSENGER, ZHANG YONGLI, SAYING: "So we've come to the foreign ministry to call upon
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2017 03:44
  • Keywords: Malaysia Airlines MH370 missing plane families petition
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Air Accidents,Disaster/Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA001673MA87
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Around 20 Chinese family members of Malaysia Airlines MH370 passengers on Wednesday (March 8) visited the Chinese foreign ministry to petition the government to continue the search for the missing aircraft on the third anniversary of its disappearance.
    The location of MH370 has become one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries since the plane, a Boeing 777, disappeared en route to Beijing from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, but there's been still no answer for their families.
    Malaysia, Australia and China announced in January that the deep-sea search for the missing MH370 ended without any trace of the plane found.
    The family members gathered outside the ministry's gate on Wednesday morning before they were ushered into a meeting hall by dozens of police.
    "We've come to the foreign ministry to call upon our government to help us save (our relatives) because this is an international issue. This (relies upon) the relationship between two or more countries. We, as common people, can only rely on the government. We have no channel to speak if we rely on ourselves as this is an international issue. We can't speak with foreign governments and they won't believe us. So our government should bravely stand up," said Zhang Yongli, father of a MH370 passenger.
    Some family members of those on board believe their loved ones are still alive.
    "(I believe) this airplane was hijacked and the people onboard, the passengers, are safe. I believe my daughter, my son-in-law, and my nephew, are still alive," said Gao Xiaying, a mother of a passenger.
    An official from the Chinese foreign ministry met with them and received their list of demands.
    Malaysia Airlines (MAS) said the hunt had been "thorough and comprehensive" and it "stands guided by the decision of the three governments to suspend the search".
    The only confirmed traces of the plane have been three pieces of debris found washed up on the island country Mauritius, the French island Reunion and an island off Tanzania.
    As many as 30 other pieces of wreckage found there and on beaches in Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa are suspected to have come from the plane.
    Twelve of the 239 on board were crew. According to the flight manifest, 152 passengers were Chinese, 50 Malaysian, seven Indonesian, six Australian, five Indian, four French and three were American.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register