Next-of-kin of another 34 passengers on MH370 file suit against MAS

The next-of-kin of 32 passengers on board the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 which went missing enroute to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014, have filed a suit against the airline, now known as Malaysian Airline System Berhad (MAS) and four others.

They filed the joint suit through the legal firm of Messrs. Tommy Thomas at the Civil High Court registry last Thursday. The media obtained a copy of the statement of claims on Monday.

A total of 76 plaintiffs were named in the suit, comprising 66 Chinese nationals, eight Indian national and two Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation, the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Malaysian government.

The plaintiffs are the next-of-kin of 26 Chinese nationals, five Indian nationals and an American who were among those on board the missing aircraft.

Yesterday, three other people, comprising the next-of-kin of two Iranians and a Malaysian, filed separate suits through the legal firm of Messrs. Karpal Singh & Co.

To date, 20 suits on negligence and breach of aviation contract have been filed by the next-of-kin of passengers and crew of the ill-fated flight.

In the statement of claims filed by the 76 next-of-kin, they claimed that the disappearance of MH370 and death of the 239 passengers and crew on board were due to the negligence of MAS.

They said MAS was, at all material times, responsible for handling and managing the flight and to ensure that the aircraft was air worthiness and it arrived safely at its destination.

If failing to do so, they claimed MAS had breached the contract it entered with the MH370 passengers.

The plaintiffs also stated that the disappearance of MH370 was due to the negligence of DCA, ATM and the government and claimed that they had all colluded cohabited in the operation and investigation which resulted in the failure to detect the missing aircraft early, and also in hiding information on the missing aircraft from the public.

As a result of the wrong actions by the defendants, the claimed to have suffered loss and damage, loss of family love and caring, loss of financial support and suffer from emotional distress and trauma.

They are seeking, among others, special, general and aggravated damages, mourning expenses, interests and other relief deemed fit by the court.