Relatives of passengers who were aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 gathered in Beijing on Saturday, marking the 11th anniversary of the plane’s disappearance. The incident remains one of aviation’s most enduring 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, with the remainder coming from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, and other nations. Despite the largest search effort in aviation history, the plane has never been located.
In a recent development, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that maritime exploration company Ocean Infinity has resumed the search for the missing aircraft. However, many family members reported they were not informed about this renewed effort.
68-year-old Li Eryou, who lost his 29-year-old son on the flight, expressed frustration, stating that despite promises to keep families updated, they had to learn about the search online. “Many families don’t even know how to access this information, so they are completely unaware,” Li shared.
Jiang Hui, who lost his mother on the flight, echoed these concerns. “We still don’t know when the search will begin, where it will take place, or what the findings have been,” he said. He hopes the search will bring an end to the 11 years of uncertainty and pain.
The families, some holding placards reading “When will the 11 years of waiting and torment end?”, gathered at a busy intersection in front of the Malaysian embassy in Beijing. Police officers were stationed around the area, limiting access and preventing journalists from taking photos of the demonstration.
The disappearance of MH370 has sparked countless theories, some plausible and others more speculative, including the idea that the pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, intentionally diverted the flight. A final report released in 2018 pointed to air traffic control failures and indicated the plane’s course had been changed manually.
Cheng Liping, whose husband was returning to China from a film shoot in Malaysia, emphasized the enduring pain for the families involved. “Everyone has been left trapped in pain. What exactly happened is still unknown,” she said. Cheng expressed her desire to reunite with her husband, saying, “I just hope that no matter where you are, you are healthy, and that we can reunite soon.”
