It is the second year anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines FlightMH370 on Tuesday, March 8. Until now, there is no definite answer what happened, although the discovery of a plane part last week in Mozambique may finally put an end to the search.
While the discovery led to another cycle of hoping and searching, two separate events took place in Beijing that day, showing the different responses of Chinese relatives of the 239 people on board the ill-fated flight which disappeared after it left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing.
The first one is the filing by kin of a dozen Chinese passengers of a lawsuit against Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, Rolls Royce and others. They filed the lawsuit at the Beijing Rail Transportation Court office which was assigned to handle all cases related to the missing jet. International agreements place a two-year prescription period for the filing of air accident lawsuits, explained Shanghai Daily.
But Zhang Quhuai, a lawyer whose law firm represents the complainants, admitted that many of the relatives were torn in filing the case because many believe their loved ones – until confirmed dead – are still alive.
In another part of Beijing, at the Lama Temple, some relatives gathered instead to pray for their missing parents, spouses, children, siblings and relatives. Like those who filed a lawsuit, many are hoping against hope that their loved ones are still alive. “If they are still alive, we wish them safe no matter where they are,” said Dai Shugin, who has four relatives in the plane.
However, some kin, like Zhang Yongli, doubts if the searchers are still looking. Zhang feels that they are only putting a show, noted CNN. Besides the small group who filed a lawsuit, relatives of 118 families have initiated legal proceedings for compensation, said Malaysia Airlines.