Bangkok: Family members of the 239 people on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have vented their anger after Malaysia declared the disappearance an "accident" despite that the world's greatest aviation mystery remains unsolved after 328 days.
"They are lying," said Sarah Bajic, whose American partner Philip Wood was on board the plane.
"It could very well be that the plane crashed. But there is no evidence and until there is evidence we just can't believe them," she said.
"It is impossible to bring closure until we have proof."
Many relatives have accused Malaysia's authoritarian government and Malaysia Airlines of bungling its response to the disappearance through incompetence and a cover-up.
Malaysia formally announced the disappearance was an accident so that family members will be able to receive compensation.
But in Kuala Lumpur, Syafinaz Hasnan, whose brother was on board, told reporters the declaration should not have been made.
"Accident with what? It is just an excuse to declare it so they can make an announcement on the deaths," she said.
Family members were angry that Malaysian government ministers left the announcement to the Department and Civil Aviation.
"They have no guts to announce it right to our face," said Mohammed Sahril Shaai, another relative.
Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, the department's director-general, said in a statement that both safety and criminal investigations have failed to substantiate any of dozens of theories about what happened to the plane, indicating the mystery may never be solved.
He said the investigations have been limited by a lack of physical evidence, particularly the plane's fight recorders.
Mr Azharuddin attempted to reach out to family members, most of whom are Chinese.
"It is therefore, with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that, on behalf of the Government of Malaysia, we officially declare that Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident … and that all 239 of the passengers and crew on board are presumed to have lost their lives," he said.
Malaysia Airlines said it was ready to proceed immediately with a process that will see "fair and reasonable" compensation paid to relatives "in accordance with applicable laws."
"Without in any way intending to diminish the feelings of the families, it is hoped that this declaration will enable the families to obtain the assistance they need, in particular through the compensation process," Mr Azharuddin said.
The Boeing 777 aircraft disappeared over the South China Sea in the early hours of March 8 last year after taking off from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing, prompting dozens of wild theories about what happened to it.
Mr Azharuddin said that based on analysis of all available evidence and the supporting factual information the data supports the conclusion that MH370 ended its flight in the southern Indian Ocean west of Perth.
A search of the area where the plane is believed to have crashed into the ocean after running out of fuel has covered 18,600 square kilometres.
Four ships are continuing the search with the backing of Australia and China.
Mr Azharuddin's statement made no mention of earlier indications by Malaysian officials that there appeared to be human interference with the plane's communications equipment as it was leaving Malaysian airspace and entering that of Vietnam.
"Available data suggests that after the transponder ceased transmitting, there was no normal radio or aircraft system (ACARS) communications transmitted or received from the aircraft," he said.
Mr Azharuddin said satellite communication system signalling messages placed the aircraft in an arc in the Indian Ocean where its fuel would have been exhausted.
He said based on the available data the plane was on the sea floor.
"This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites. It is also an area with adverse sea conditions with known depths of 6000 metres."
Authorities in Kuala Lumpur are planning to release a detailed interim report into the investigations on March 7, the day before the first anniversary of the disappearance.
But officials say the report mainly covers technical issues and does not include any significant revelations about the disappearance.
The international team consists of the US National Transport Safety Board, Britain's Air Accidents Investigations Branch, China's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, France's Land Transport Accident Investigation Bureau, the Australia Transport Safety Bureau, aircraft manufacturer Boeing and British satellite communications company Inmarsat.
The report's release is a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Mr Azharuddin confirmed that a Malaysian police investigation into the disappearance is ongoing.
No details have been made public.
"We have never wavered in our commitment to continue our efforts to find MH370 and bring closure for everyone, most of all for the families of the passengers and crew," Mr Azharuddin said.
"This declaration is by no means the end. We will forge ahead with the cooperation and assistance of the governments of China and Australia. MH370, its passengers and its crew will always be remembered and honoured."
Desmond Ross, a Sydney–based commercial pilot with extensive experience in Asia, said he doubts the plane will ever be found and that he would put money on it not having crashed where the search is now located.
"I just think that after this length of time that some floating debris would have washed up somewhere," he said.
The crisis worsened for Malaysia Airlines on July 17 when another plane, Flight MH17, was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.
Rounding out a bad year for Southeast Asian carriers, an AirAsia flight from Indonesia's second-biggest city of Surabaya to Singapore crashed in December, killing all 162 people on board.
-with agencies
