Malaysia has sought to draw a line under one of the greatest mysteries of the modern commercial jet age by declaring the disappearance 10 months ago of flight MH370 “an accident”.
“It is?.?.?.?with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that, on behalf of the government of Malaysia, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident?.?.?.?and that all 239 of the passengers and crew onboard are presumed to have lost their lives,” said Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, director-general of the Southeast Asian country’s department of civil aviation.
The conclusion, based on criteria set out in the Chicago Convention on aviation, comes after a huge search by vessels and aircraft from 13 countries for the Boeing-777 airliner.