A Decade Later, Chinese Court Directs Malaysia Airlines to Pay $3.3 Million Over MH370

Key Highlights

• Beijing court orders Malaysia Airlines to pay over 2.9 million yuan per family in new MH370 compensation rulings.
• Eight cases ruled, 47 already settled, while 23 more remain under trial.
• Malaysia to resume MH370 search on Dec 30, marking a renewed push more than 10 years after the aircraft vanished.

A Beijing court has ordered Malaysia Airlines to pay more than 2.9 million yuan (US$410,000) per case to several families of passengers who were on board the missing flight MH370, according to a report by China’s state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.

The ruling marks one of the most significant legal developments in the long-running aviation tragedy, more than a decade after the jet disappeared.

Beijing Court Orders Malaysia Airlines to Pay Millions in New MH370 Compensation Rulings

The decisions on eight cases, each involving a single passenger, were made based on reports from CCTV. Another 47 cases have been settled and withdrawn, while 23 more remain in court, underlining how the legal battles surrounding the disappearance continue to span years and jurisdictions.

Malaysia Airlines has not yet issued a public response to the court order, despite requests for comment from international media outlets.

A Decade-Long Wait for Accountability

Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 bound for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, vanished on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board. According to past reports from global aviation authorities, nearly two-thirds of the passengers were Chinese nationals, with the remainder comprising Malaysians, Indonesians, Australians, and citizens from India, the United States, the Netherlands, and France.

Despite one of the largest and most expensive searches in aviation history, the main wreckage of the plane has never been found. Over the years, fragments believed to be from MH370 have washed up along the coasts of the Indian Ocean. Still, they have not been sufficient to conclusively determine the aircraft’s final resting place or the causes behind its disappearance.

The absence of answers has forced families into protracted legal disputes, many of which have played out in Chinese courts. The latest rulings reflect ongoing attempts to provide compensation, even as core questions around accountability remain unresolved.

Renewed Search Effort Set to Resume

In a separate development, Malaysia’s transport ministry said earlier this month that the search for MH370 will resume on December 30, according to statements carried by Malaysian outlets. The new operation is expected to last 55 days, focusing on areas believed to have the highest probability of locating the aircraft based on updated assessments and modelling.

Authorities have not disclosed the exact coordinates of the renewed search zone. However, transport officials said the mission would rely on refined data and analysis carried out in collaboration with international experts and teams that have previously participated in the underwater operations.

The renewed search has revived hope among families who have long demanded continued efforts by Malaysian authorities. For many, the Beijing court ruling, combined with a fresh search window, represents a symbolic acknowledgement that the case remains unresolved despite the passage of more than 10 years.

Ongoing Legal and Emotional Fallout

According to previous reporting by Reuters and Chinese state media, compensation cases related to MH370 have varied widely, with earlier settlements spanning from emotional damages claims to compensation for lost income and support. Monday’s ruling, amounting to more than 2.9 million yuan per case, places significant financial responsibility on Malaysia Airlines. However, legal experts note that compensation in Chinese courts can vary depending on family circumstances, the age of passengers, and other factors.

For families still fighting in court, the process continues. The 23 unresolved cases now move into a critical phase, with families hoping for rulings that deliver both financial relief and symbolic recognition of their loss.

As the next phase of the MH370 search begins, families say they await not just compensation, but a closure, something no court ruling has yet been able to provide.