Missing plane: Families flown to Malaysia

Francis Chai, president of the Auckland Malaysian Society, made the same Malaysia Airlines trip last July and said it was a popular flight to Beijing. Photo / Japan Out

Family members of the two New Zealanders on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have been taken to Kuala Lumpur to wait for news of their loved ones.

Ned Wang, nephew of 50-year-old Ximin Wang, left Auckland with Mr Wang's wife on Sunday night and were joined by Mr Wang's daughter, who arrived from China.

Read more of the Herald's Flight 370 coverage today:
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"We offered to take the families to KL because that is where the search operations are being co-ordinated, and where they can get the latest news from our key team," said Dzulkefli Zakaria, Malaysia Airlines' New Zealand area manager.

He said several family members of both Mr Wang and 38-year-old Cantabrian father of two Paul Weeks had taken up the offer.

Mr Wang's nephew Ned runs an immigration and education consultancy firm, New Bridge Education, and the

Herald

understands Mr Wang has referred clients to the company in the past.

It is not clear if this trip to Beijing was a business trip or if he was returning to Beijing to visit his daughter.

Francis Chai, president of the Auckland Malaysian Society, made the same Malaysia Airlines trip last July and said it was a popular flight to Beijing.

Flight MH370 departs Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am (5.41am NZ time) and lands in Beijing at 6.30am.

"The timing makes it popular because it is an overnight flight and so you don't waste a day," said Mr Chai.

"It's really a shock that this has happened because it could have been me or any one of us, and our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected."