Malaysia has formally declared missing flight MH370 an accident and its passengers and crew presumed dead, news agency AFP reports.
The announcement opened the door for compensation payments but was met with scepticism by distraught relatives.
“It is therefore, with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that, on behalf of the government of Malaysia, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident,” civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said in a televised announcement.
“All 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives,” he added.
Azharuddin said the official decision that the plane's disappearance on March 8 was an accident would allow families to receive compensation payments from the airlines.
Sarah Bajc, whose partner Philip Wood was on board the plane, poured scorn on the announcement.
“I think they are lying.”
“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.
Malaysian authorities say satellite data indicates the plane inexplicably detoured to the remote southern Indian Ocean, which they suspect was due to "deliberate" action on-board. But no firm evidence has turned up yet, despite an ongoing Australian-led search of the supposed crash region - the most expensive search and rescue operation in history.