Malaysia Airlines flight
MH370: Relatives screamed after being told of tragic news by TEXT
After 17 days the 239 passengers and crew on board are all believed to have perished as the flight crashed in the Indian Ocean
Heartbroken families of those on board missing MH370 had their worst fears confirmed today with a text message from Malaysia Airlines saying 'nobody survived'.
Relatives of the 239 passengers and crew could be heard screaming and shouting after being told the plane went down in the Indian Ocean.
Moments later Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told media this afternoon that experts believe "beyond any doubt" the 239 passengers and crew have all perished.
Data from UK satellites and pioneering expert analysis from the Air Accident Investigation Board showed the plane went down to the west of Perth.
Paramedics were sent in to try and comfort the devastated families, who are being offered flights to Australia, where searches will continue.
Malaysia Airlines sent this text message to relatives: "Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board survived.
"As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia's Prime Minister, we must now accept all evidence suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean."
Malaysia Airlines later added in a statement: "Malaysia Airlines did not ONLY send an SMS.
"The message was conveyed to all families face to face by our top management at the hotels.
"SMS and phone calls were made to those who are not in the hotels via our family support centre.
"We wanted to ensure that families are informed via all channels."
Acting Transport Minister Hishammudin Hussein tweeted his condolences.
He added: "In these times of grief, I urge the public to give the family members some space, respect their privacy."
PM Razak also urged for people to respect them "at this very difficult time".
His full statement reads: "This evening I was briefed by representatives from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
"They informed me that Inmarsat, the UK company that provided the satellite data which indicated the northern and southern corridors, has been performing further calculations on the data.
"Using a type of analysis never before used in an investigation of this sort, they have been able to shed more light on MH370’s flight path.
"Based on their new analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.
"This is a remote location. Far from any possible landing sites. It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean."
Search for flight M370 - 25th March
He added: "We will be holding a press conference tomorrow with further details. In the meantime, we wanted to inform you of this new development at the earliest opportunity.
"We share this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families, two principles which have guided this investigation.
"Malaysia Airlines have already spoken to the families of the passengers and the crew to inform them of this development.
"For them the past few weeks have been heartbreaking. I know this news must be harder still. i urge the media to respect their privacy and allow them the space they need at this very difficult time."
Tuesday, March 25, 12:30 AM MYT +0800 Malaysia Airlines MH370 Flight Incident - Media Statement 24
It is with deep sadness that Malaysia Airlines earlier this evening had to confirm to the families of those on board Flight MH370 that it must now be assumed the flight had been lost. As the Prime Minister said, respect for the families is essential at this difficult time. And it is in that spirit that we informed the majority of the families in advance of the Prime Minister’s statement in person and by telephone. SMSs were used only as an additional means of communicating with the families. Those families have been at the heart of every action the company has taken since the flight disappeared on 8th March and they will continue to be so. When Malaysia Airlines receives approval from the investigating authorities, arrangements will be made to bring the families to the recovery area and until that time, we will continue to support the ongoing investigation.
