Malaysia on Thursday declared the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as an accident and said all the 239 people aboard are presumed dead, paving the way for compensation claims. The plane disappeared an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8. A huge search operation in the southern Indian Ocean has failed to find the wreckage, dpa reported. "With the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident," said Azharuddin Abul Rahman, chief of Malaysia's Department of Civil Aviation. "All 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives," he said in a televised statement. "It is hoped that this declaration will enable the families to obtain the assistance they need, in particular through the compensation process."
