RELATIVES of passengers who were on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 gathered in Beijing on Saturday, March 8, to mark the 11th anniversary of the plane’s disappearance, demanding answers from authorities in what has become one of aviation's greatest mysteries.
On March 8, 2014, the Boeing 777, carrying 239 people, vanished from radar screens while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Two-thirds of the passengers were Chinese nationals, while the rest came from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, and other countries. Despite the largest search operation in aviation history, the plane has never been found.
In an update last month, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that maritime exploration company Ocean Infinity had resumed the search for the missing aircraft. However, many family members of the victims expressed frustration, revealing that they were not informed about the continuation of the search.
"We were promised that we would be informed immediately, but we only found out about this news online," AFP cited Li Eryou, 68, who lost his 29-year-old son on the flight saying.
"Many families don't even know how to access this information, so they are completely unaware," he added, emphasizing the anger and frustration felt by the families. "We all feel extremely angry and frustrated," Li added.
Jiang Hui, whose mother was aboard the ill-fated flight, voiced similar concerns. "When will the search start? Where will it take place? How long will it last? What discoveries have been made? What theories led to the decision to restart the search?" Jiang asked reporters, expressing his hope that the renewed effort would finally end the 11 years of torment for the families.
The grieving relatives gathered in front of the Malaysian embassy in Beijing on Saturday, with police placing heavy security around the area.
At least 20 officers sealed off the road, preventing access while shooing away journalists and warning them to stop taking photographs.
Despite the police presence, AFP reported, family members held up placards reading, "When will the 11 years of waiting and torment end?" and shouted in unison, "Give us back our loved ones!"
The mystery of the plane's disappearance has sparked numerous theories, ranging from the credible to the bizarre.
Some have speculated that the veteran pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, had gone rogue, while others have pointed to failures in air traffic control.
A final report released in 2018 indicated that the plane’s course had been manually altered, and that there were lapses in the response from air traffic controllers.
Cheng Liping, whose husband was returning to China on MH370 after a film shoot in Malaysia, expressed her deep pain, hoping that China and Malaysia could work together to uncover the truth.
"Everyone has been left trapped in pain. What exactly happened is still unknown," said Cheng, who is a mother of two boys.
When asked what she would say to her husband if given the chance, Cheng said, "There is so much I want to say. I just hope that no matter where you are, you are healthy, and that we can reunite soon."
As the families continue to search for closure, their call for justice and answers remains loud and clear, marking over a decade of heartache and unanswered questions surrounding the fate of MH370. - March 9, 2025
