Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 found update: Families to receive advanced payments, told to go home by airline

Families of Flight 370 passengers Wochit video screenshot

On May 1, Malaysia Airline officials told families of the missing Flight 370 passengers to go home, and that an advanced payment would be made to them soon.

The airline put the grieving relatives in hotels in various countries to better notify them when updates were made. Malaysia Airlines will close its "family assistance centers" on May 7.

In a statement, an airline rep said the families should seek comfort in their hometowns.

"Instead of staying in hotels, the families of MH370 are advised to receive information updates on the progress of the search and investigation and other support by Malaysia Airlines within the comfort of their own homes, with the support and care of their families and friends," the statement read.

The announcement comes after a hostage situation last week, when 10 Malaysia Airline employees were held against their will for 10 hours at Beijing's Lido Hotel by angry family members of the missing passengers.

The relatives were angry after a Malaysian government official did not show up for a scheduled meeting with them.

Malaysia Airlines also announced that a final financial compensation package will be given to families at a later date, but an advanced payment will be made soon. The amount of the payment was not specified.

Flight 370 disappeared on March 8 while flying from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing, China. Neither a crash site nor confirmed wreckage have been discovered as of yet.

Relatives of the passengers have been frustrated by what they consider a slow search effort, misinformation and a lack of communication from government and airline officials during the search and recovery effort, and overall ambiguity as to what happened on the doomed flight.

Although rumors persist, no evidence or explanation of the plane's disappearance have been discovered.

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Anxious wait for pastor prosecuted for preaching outside hospital
Anxious wait for pastor prosecuted for preaching outside hospital

A retired pastor who was prosecuted after preaching a sermon outside a hospital in Northern Ireland faces an anxious wait to find out the verdict in his case. 

Why Raye is right to choose a Bible app over Instagram
Why Raye is right to choose a Bible app over Instagram

In a world obsessed with being seen, heard and validated online, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Raye has made a refreshingly countercultural decision: stepping away from social media and leaning into Scripture instead.

Over 10,000 sign petition in support of church fighting outreach ban
Over 10,000 sign petition in support of church fighting outreach ban

The church has the support of Reform leader Nigel Farage.

Christian private school blames Labour's VAT raid as it weighs up closure
Christian private school blames Labour's VAT raid as it weighs up closure

Labour's policy has been described as "ideological vandalism".