News Digest

First lawsuit filed in Malaysia over MH370

A Malaysian family is suing the government and troubled national carrier for negligence in the mysterious disappearance of flight MH370, in what is believed to be the first lawsuit filed over the disaster. The suit was filed Friday by lawyers on behalf of the two underage sons of Jee Jing Hang, who was on board the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight. The family is suing Malaysia Airlines for breach of contract, saying it failed in its contractual responsibility to deliver Jee to his destination. Gary Chong, a lawyer for Jee’s relatives, said the family would seek damages but declined to specify a figure. The family is also suing Malaysia’s government, civil aviation authorities, immigration department and air force for negligence.

Our clients are after the truth. We have confidence in our judiciary system that this suit will be heard and dealt with fairly.

A statement by the family’s legal team

MH370 inexplicably disappeared on March 8 with 239 people aboard en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in what remains one of history’s great aviation mysteries. Malaysia’s government believes the flight diverted to the far southern Indian Ocean, citing sketchy satellite data, but no trace has been found despite an extensive search. Neither the government nor airline has revealed any results from investigations launched in the aftermath of the tragedy, and consistently stresses that only recovery of the lost Boeing 777 aircraft will provide full answers.