Relatives Of Flight MH370 Victims Notified By Text Message Of Debris Confirmation

Family members of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 have been waiting for confirmation of what happened to their loved ones for over a year. Finally, 515 days after the MH370 disappearance, debris from the doomed flight were confirmed by the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Malaysian Airlines. However, instead of personally informing the relatives of the 239 victims, many of the victim’s family members said they were notified of the findings by the airlines in a series of group text messages. Despite the airlines noting they wanted to “sincerely convey” their message, many are wondering if a text message was personal enough for such a monumental moment in the search for the missing aircraft?

The Daily Mail reports that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has confirmed in a press conference that debris found on Reunion Island are that of the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight H370. The plane has been missing since March 8, 2014. Despite widespread efforts to recover the plane since the mysterious disappearance, the debris on Reunion Island are the first solid lead about what happened to the doomed flight.

“Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts has conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370. We now have physical evidence that, as I announced on 24th March last year, flight MH370 tragically ended in the southern Indian Ocean.”

A portion of a Boeing 777 wing was found on the beach of Reunion Island last week, but officials were slow to announce that it was from the missing Flight MH370. French officials working the investigation have not made their official announcement regarding the wing’s origins. However, they note that MH370 was the only missing Boeing 777, and it was “highly” probable the wing belonged to the doomed airliner. In addition to the wing segment, officials are now claiming that plane windows and aircraft seats have also been found on the shore.

After the Malaysian PM officially confirmed the wing was from MH370, relatives were informed of the findings by Malaysian Airlines. However, it is the method of the disclosure that has some questioning the sincerity of the message. Many family members, such as Australian George Burrows, whose son Rodney Burrows was on board MH370, were notified of the finding by text message. The message relayed that the airlines had the “deepest sorrow” with the confirmation of plane debris.

“Malaysia Airlines would like to sincerely convey our deepest sorrow that the object… was indeed from Flight MH370.”

What do you think about Malaysian Airlines informing the MH370 victims’ families of the debris confirmation through text message?

[Photo by Kevin Frayer / Getty Images]