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Experts examine new debris for MH370 clues
by Staff Writers
Sydney (AFP) April 19, 2016


MH17 families mulling lawsuit against Malaysia Airlines
The Hague (AFP) April 19, 2016 - Dozens of families of those killed when a missile shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine two years ago are considering suing the carrier for compensation, their lawyer told AFP Tuesday.

All 298 passengers and crew -- the majority of them Dutch -- died when the Boeing 777 was hit by a Russian-made BUK anti-aircraft missile over war-torn eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

"We are still negotiating the case. But the offers that Malaysia Airlines are making are almost offensive for our clients," lawyer Veeru Mewa told AFP.

His office, Beer Advocaten, represents the families of 91 people killed in the disaster. But he is also leading a core group of Dutch lawyers, acting for the families of some 168 people who died on the ill-fated flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Under a 1999 international accord dubbed the Montreal Convention, the families have until the second anniversary of the disaster -- July 17 -- to decide if they want to press a lawsuit.

Mewa said the airlines' insurers were "taking advantage of Dutch law" under which if someone dies in an accident then you can only claim "compensation for the funeral costs."

"According to international standards that would mean a Dutch life is worth less than any other life," he said.

The lawsuit, if it is filed, would seek damages for the loss of earnings as well as compensation for the "psychological" trauma of those who lost loved ones.

The legal team was also thinking of holding Malaysia Airlines "liable for flying over Ukraine" which was in the middle of a conflict with government forces fighting pro-Russian rebels.

Many "families are struggling with real traumatic bereavement, real post-traumatic stress syndrome because of the images, seeing rebels walking on the gravesite, and not being able to go there, knowing that the Dutch government was not there to collect the bodies for quite a while," Mewa said.

They just want "a just" settlement, and the offer so far on the table did not give them "satisfaction," he added.

It remains to be decided if the suit would be filed in The Hague or in Malaysia, he said, adding that as well as Dutch clients the group including Swiss, Indonesian and Australian nationals.

"Malaysia Airlines, immediately after the crash said that they will take responsibility and take care of the families. And the offers they are making is not suggesting that."

Officials with the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) concluded last year as part of an international investigation that the Boeing 777 was hit by a BUK missile.

In February, a separate criminal investigation team said they hoped within months to pinpoint the exact spot from which the missile was fired.

Investigators were Tuesday examining two more pieces of debris for clues to the fate of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, along with marine life found on two other items which "almost certainly" came from the lost jet.

The latest two pieces -- one found in South Africa and another on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius -- were brought to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's laboratories for testing last week.

"Investigators from the ATSB and the Malaysian authorities are currently examining those two pieces for details which would serve to identify them as coming from a Boeing 777," the bureau said in a statement.

"And in particular for any details which might serve to link the debris as coming from MH370."

Two parts found on beaches in Mozambique along its Indian Ocean coast have already been identified as "almost certainly" from the missing plane.

Australia is leading the search in the remote southern Indian Ocean, believed to be the final resting place of the plane which disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014 carrying 239 passengers and crew.

Last year a wing part recovered from the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, which neighbours Mauritius, was confirmed as coming from the jet.

Since then two more items found about 220 kilometres (140 miles) apart from each other in Mozambique in December 2015 and February 2016 have been examined.

The ATSB confirmed Tuesday earlier statements that both pieces "almost certainly" came from the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft operating as MH370.

The first part, which had a number stencilled on it, was identified as a segment from a Boeing 777 flap track from the right wing, with the stencilling on it conforming to that used by Malaysia Airlines.

The second part, which had the words "No Step" on it, was identified as a segment of a Boeing 777 horizontal stabiliser panel. Its stencilling was also consistent with that used by the carrier, the ATSB said.

Both pieces were also examined for "marine ecology and remnants of biological material" which could provide clues to their sea journey.

"Visible marine ecology was present on both parts and these items were removed and preserved," the report said.

"At the time of writing, ongoing work was being conducted with respect to the marine ecology identification as well as testing of material samples.

"The results from these tests will be provided to the Malaysian investigation team once complete."

The ATSB said the pieces found in Mozambique would be returned to Malaysia this week.

mfc/bp/mtp

Malaysia Airlines


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