Flight 370: Stunned relatives no longer sure what to believe

Relatives of Chinese passengers watch a TV news program about the missing flight after a briefing meeting with Malaysian officials. Photo / AP

Two weeks ago, 38-year-old New Zealander Paul Weeks kissed his wife Danica goodbye at the airport.

Just before he boarded Flight MH370, he sent an email to Danica saying she and their children, Lincoln, 3, and Jack, 11 months, meant the world to him.

At about the same time, Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, an experienced Malaysia Airlines pilot, was also making his way on board along with 238 other passengers and crew.

Little did they realise their Beijing-bound flight would not be arriving at its intended destination and spark an unprecedented international hunt.

The flight departed from Kuala Lumpur at around 12.41am and was scheduled to land at 6.30am on March 8, and as of today it has been missing for 14 days. On Thursday the Australian Government revealed a surveillance satellite had spotted two large pieces of debris several days before, leaving families and the world waiting for confirmation as to whether or not they are from the jetliner.

This is the latest in an emotional rollercoaster ride for the relatives, many now unsure of believing anything anymore after having been on the receiving end of a string of contradictory information.

The nephew, wife and daughter of the other missing New Zealander Ximin Wang, 50, were among the 20 or so family members who took up the airline's offer to fly them to Kuala Lumpur. But many were left disappointed, and complained of a lack of communication from Malaysian officials and being held like prisoners in their heavily guarded hotel.

As days turn into weeks, some have given up and gone home, but others have resorted to desperate measures to express their anguish and agony.

A group of two women and a man stormed a daily press briefing on Wednesday, unfolding a banner that said: "Release our loved ones on MH370 back to us unconditionally."

One of the women wailed: "Where is my son, please he is my only son."

At another hotel, where families of missing locals were staying, a father got down on his knees pleading for someone, anyone, to help him find his son.

Despite the latest "credible" development, families are still clinging on to hope that their loved ones are still alive.

Relatives of Chinese passengers in KL, who days earlier were so eager to speak to reporters, sat in stunned silence at their hotel.

One woman told the Weekend Herald she would not talk because she didn't believe the information was "100 per cent correct".

Wen Wancheng, 63, spokesman for relatives in Beijing, told reporters: "My son is still alive ... my son is still alive. I don't believe the news."

A support worker said yesterday relatives in KL were also reluctant to accept a Malaysia Airlines offer to fly them to Perth. The families were told by the airline yesterday that they could go to Australia if the debris was confirmed to be from MH370.

"So far I don't think anyone is even thinking of taking the offer," the support worker said. "You can say they are hoping against hope that their relatives are still alive, and that the Australians are wrong."

At KL International Airport, there's still no sign of messages of hope and well wishes slowing down at the wall of hope.

Yesterday visitors continued to write "please come back safe" and "we will meet again soon" on the tribute wall.