MH370 relatives to be sent home

Malaysia Airlines says it will close assistance centres for the relatives of those on board MH370 and send them home to wait for search updates.

Relatives of those on board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight will be checked out of hotels and sent home to await updates on the search.

In a statement on Thursday evening, the airline said relatives would be sent home and Family Assistance Centres around the world would close on May 7.

"From past experience, we understand the continuing search and investigation would be a prolonged process," it said.

"While Malaysia Airlines is committed to continuing its support to the families during the whole process, we are adjusting the mode of services and support.

"Instead of staying in hotels, the families of MH370 are advised to receive information updates on the progress of the search and investigation and other support by Malaysia Airlines within the comfort of their own homes, with the support and care of their families and friends."

The airline said it would keep in close touch with the families via phone calls, messages, the internet and face-to-face meetings, and Family Support Centres would be established in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.

The detailed plan of follow-up support and services would be passed on to families in person, Malaysia Airlines said.

The relatives of the 153 Chinese passengers on board the ill-fated flight have been up in arms about the airline's handling of the disaster, staging protests, threatening hunger strikes and labelling it a murderer, saying they would not accept the assertion that all on board are dead until physical proof is found.

MH370 went missing 55 days ago on the way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 passengers and crew on board.


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Source: AAP


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