Since March of last year there have been multiple reports of sightings which could have possibly been the wreckage of missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, but all have proven to be unfounded to date. On October 13, 2015 it was reported that a young man bird hunting in Tawi Tawi, Philippines sighted a downed aircraft with skeletal remains. There is a good bit of conjecture as to whether or not this could be the missing flight that had 239 people aboard, but Malaysian and Philippine police have reportedly joined forces to investigate the sighting as the world awaits word from Sugbay Island in Tawi Tawi.
Details of Sighting Emerging
According to news reports, the wreckage was found by a lady who was hunting birds in the jungle and came upon what appeared to be a crashed aircraft with the skeletons of people and a Malaysian flag. The report was submitted by a 46 year old male who was contacting the authorities on behalf of his aunt who sighted the downed aircraft and even claims to have boarded it. It has not yet been confirmed whether or not search parties have been able to get access to the plane or even if it exists. Until that time, this is being treated as a ‘possible sighting’ as there is still no proof that a downed plane exists.
Previous Sightings Unfounded
Over the past year-and-a-half there have been multiple reports of possible sightings of MH370 in locations as far away as Australia. On March 19, 2014 several witnesses told CNN that they even saw the crash but those claims have yet to be authenticated as no wreckage has been found. The Boeing 777 was also said to have been seen by a woman crossing the Indian Ocean on a flight, according to the London Daily Mail reported on March 18, 2014. These are just two examples of dozens of potential sightings reported in the past 18 months. Will this latest report finally add closure to the tragedy? The world awaits word from the Philippines.
Whereabouts of Three American Passengers Still Unknown
According to MH370’s passenger list, there were two American adults and one baby aboard the plane when it disappeared without a trace. If the latest sighting is found to be the missing plane there could be questions of liability that come to the surface. Aviation lawyers such as Slack & Davis might be called to represent families of those deceased if it is found that the airlines was negligent. Although international laws differ from state and federal laws, expert aviation lawyers can certainly represent grieving families left behind.
Every time a sighting is reported, those families and friends of crew members and passengers of MH370 wait on baited breath. Will this time be the one sighting that proves true? It would certainly add closure for those still grieving. As soon as the search teams are able to find and access the remote location where the wreckage was reportedly seen the world will know. Until that time, we can only wait alongside families and friends of those lost on Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.
