Son of MH370 Victim Continues 11-Year Search for Truth About Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight

Jiang Hui displays items commemorating Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the aircraft his mother was aboard when it mysteriously disappeared.

In China, Jiang Hui vividly recalls the final moments with his mother, Jiang Cuiyun. She waved goodbye with a bag over her shoulder, promising to bring back souvenirs from her journey. At 72, the retiree became one of 239 individuals on flight MH370 that disappeared from radar on March 8, 2014, while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Despite conducting the most extensive search in aviation history, the aircraft remains unfound. This ongoing mystery continues to inflict profound grief upon the families of those lost.

"Who could ever imagine such an improbable tragedy would strike their own family?" said 52-year-old Jiang Hui during an interview with AFP at his Beijing residence.

For over a decade, he has pursued answers alongside relatives of other Chinese victims, who constituted two-thirds of the passengers.

Recently, Malaysian authorities announced plans to resume the search for the missing aircraft in late December. Additionally, a Beijing court ordered Malaysia Airlines to pay approximately 2.9 million yuan ($411,000) in compensation to several affected families.

However, Jiang and fellow relatives remain dissatisfied with what they describe as insufficient transparency from both the Malaysian government and the airline.

Jiang now manages a social media group where families share updates on MH370 developments and provide mutual support.

They have requested specific information regarding the new search area coordinates and details about the equipment and vessels to be deployed, he informed AFP.

"We have yet to receive any response," he stated, adding that some families fear the search might be "merely performative without producing results."

The suspension of the search in 2017 marked "the most challenging period of all," according to Jiang.

His home contains numerous reminders of the disaster. Bookshelves hold volumes about the incident, alongside a Boeing 777 model that helped him understand the structure of the aircraft his mother was aboard when it vanished.

Jiang showed AFP his collection of T-shirts worn at MH370 family gatherings over the past decade, along with extensive documentation including correspondence with China's foreign ministry, court records, and maps.

"These are all historical records," he explained, pointing to his files.

Malaysia, which lost 50 people including 12 crew members in the disaster, currently has no ongoing legal proceedings.

The recent compensation ruling in Beijing applies to families of eight passengers officially declared deceased.

However, 23 cases, including Jiang's, remain unresolved because some families have not made such declarations, according to the court.

Jiang expressed that the court statement implies he must declare his mother deceased to receive compensation.

"Being asked to declare my mother deceased without evidence is extremely difficult for me to accept," he said. "I find it quite inhumane."

He remains determined to discover the truth.

"Finding the aircraft, finding my loved one, and uncovering the truth—I believe this is something I must accomplish in my lifetime," he told AFP.

His motivation stems from the strong bond he shared with his mother, whom he described as an ordinary but resilient woman who worked diligently for her family.

"I had envisioned that when my children were older, we would travel together as a family, allowing her to enjoy her later years," he shared.

"I believe that finding her and revealing the truth represents the greatest respect I can now show her."