MH370 lawsuit brings ‘ridiculous questions’, heartache for families

LOVED ones of the victims of the MH370 disappearance are facing “ridiculous questions” from Malaysia Airlines as they seek compensation.

The search area for MH370 has almost been entirely scoured, without any trace of the Boeing 777 being found. Picture: ATSB

EXCLUSIVE

AUSTRALIAN families facing the prospect of never knowing what happened to their loved ones on board MH370, are being further tormented by drawn out legal action.

After filing a suit against Malaysia Airlines in March, the adult children of Rodney and Mary Burrows and Bob and Cathy Lawton, have been subjected to “ridiculous” questions from lawyers acting for the carrier.

In correspondence with Carneys Lawyers, GSG Legal has demanded the next of kin say what caused the aircraft to crash, where it crashed and who was monitoring, tracking and supervising the plane.

Karla McMaster, Melia Burrows and Jayden Burrows are the three children of Rodney and Mary Burrows who are celebrating their parents' lives on the twelve month anniversary of MH370's disappearance. Pics Tara Croser.

Brisbane’s Karla McMaster who lost parents Rodney and Mary when MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board, said the experience had been frustrating and emotionally draining.

Along with her siblings Jayden and Melia Burrows, and the daughters of Bob and Cathy Lawton, Ms McMaster is seeking damages from Malaysia Airlines for financial loss and nervous shock.

She said the case was not about money, but rather holding the airline to account for failing to keep track of one of its own aircraft.

“We want them to recognise that their actions, or lack of action, is why we’re in this position now,” said Ms McMaster.

“Money won’t change anything or bring our loved ones back. It will hopefully allow us to move forwards and have some type of closure if they are held accountable.”

Rodney and Mary Burrows missing presumed dead on flight MH370

Since the baffling disappearance of the Boeing 777 on March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines has publicly stated its commitment to ensuring “fair and reasonable compensation is paid to the families of all MH370 passengers”.

“We have stated this publicly on many occasions and we reiterate that the airline will honour any commitments that we have made,” said a statement provided by Malaysia Airlines.

“The wellbeing of the family members is always our main priority.”

Ms McMaster said the reality was much different.

“From day one they haven’t wanted to help try and make this easier for us, it seems to be a pattern of theirs,” she said.

“They just seem to want to put the families last. They don’t really want to have to deal with us.”

The behaviour of the airline could not be more different from that of Australia’s Joint Agency Coordination Centre, set up to keep families informed about the search for MH370.

“They know how to treat us as people,” said Ms McMaster.

MH370 search ship, Fugro Equator, returns to Australia after 6 months at sea - searching for the missing Malaysian Airlines plane. Scott Miller, a hydrographic geologist from Western Australia with Tech DT-2 sonar device called Spero (Latin for hope).

Families now face the added burden of the search in the Southern Indian Ocean being completed without finding the plane.

With less than 15,000 square kilometres left to be searched, hope is fading that the mystery will ever be solved.

“I don’t know how you are meant to prepare yourself,” Ms McMaster said.

“How can you prepare yourself? It feels very final.”