HONG KONG — The Malaysian government declared on Thursday that the loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 last March was an accident according to the terms of an international air agreement and that the 239 passengers and crew aboard the plane were presumed dead.
While Malaysian officials had said last spring that the plane appeared to have been lost with all aboard, the step Thursday cleared the way for death certificates to be issued for the passengers and crew and for Malaysia Airlines and its insurers to pay compensation to their next of kin — although litigation over the amount of compensation could continue for years.
–
Michelle Innis contributed reporting from Sydney, Australia.
