The families of Chinese passengers aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines jet lashed out at Malaysian officials on Monday — calling them "murderers" — after the prime minister abruptly announced the Boeing 777 was believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean.
In a group statement, relatives of the 154 Chinese passengers who were on the doomed flight decried Malaysian officials — the airline, the government and the military — for having "continuously delayed, hid and lied" to them.
"Such (a) despicable act not only ridiculed and destroyed the body and mind of the 154 Chinese relatives but also misguided and delayed the search time. This wasted huge amount(s) of manpower and material resources" and wasted "precious time," the statement said.
The statement goes on to say: "If our 154 family members lost their precious lives then Malaysia Air, Malaysian government and Malaysian military killed our relatives, they are the real murderers!"
The relatives then "express our protest and condemnation" of Malaysia Airlines, the Malaysian government and the Malaysian military.
"Give us back our relatives! Give us back our relatives! Tell the truth! Tell the truth!," the statement said. "We will use all possible means to look into the inexcusable guilt of Malaysia Airline, Malaysian government and Malaysian Military!!!"