Families of missing MH370 passengers mark 4 years since disappearance
Lazikani Lazikani
Kuala Lumpur (dpa) - The families of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 passengers and crew held a remembrance event in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, less than a week before the March 8 anniversary of the plane's disappearance four years ago with 239 people on board.
The memorial event at an outdoor open space of a mall in Kuala Lumpur included shows by local performers and tributes by the next of kin from India, Malaysia and China.
The event also saw experts speak about air crash investigations, the psychological impact of the case and the importance of family support associations for the victims.
The search for the missing aircraft was suspended in January 2017 but resumed early this year after Malaysia's government gave approval to private US-based exploration company Ocean Infinity to search for the plane on a "no cure, no fee" basis.
Since 2015 only two pieces of wreckage have been confirmed to be from the missing airliner, despite suspected debris found by Blaine Alan Gibson, a US private investigator who conducted his own search effort.
"I'm happy the search has been resumed," Blaine told dpa on Saturday. "I hope the black box is found ... otherwise I will continue my search."
Grace Nathan, a lawyer in Malaysia whose mother was on the plane, thanked members of the media.
"Four years is not a short amount of time, so we appreciate your commitment to this cause," said Nathan, who became emotional as she recalled the last conversation she had with her mother.
Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's civil aviation chief, said the search is going well at the moment and will most likely end sometime in June.
The event also saw experts speak about air crash investigations, the psychological impact of the case and the importance of family support associations for the victims.
The search for the missing aircraft was suspended in January 2017 but resumed early this year after Malaysia's government gave approval to private US-based exploration company Ocean Infinity to search for the plane on a "no cure, no fee" basis.
Since 2015 only two pieces of wreckage have been confirmed to be from the missing airliner, despite suspected debris found by Blaine Alan Gibson, a US private investigator who conducted his own search effort.
"I'm happy the search has been resumed," Blaine told dpa on Saturday. "I hope the black box is found ... otherwise I will continue my search."
Grace Nathan, a lawyer in Malaysia whose mother was on the plane, thanked members of the media.
"Four years is not a short amount of time, so we appreciate your commitment to this cause," said Nathan, who became emotional as she recalled the last conversation she had with her mother.
Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's civil aviation chief, said the search is going well at the moment and will most likely end sometime in June.