The Malaysia Airline Flight MH370 mystery has been closed and the crash is being deemed accidental, with the search for survivors officially called off, MSNBC reported on Thursday.
All 239 passengers that were on the Boeing 777 are presumed dead, according to a statement released by the country's Department of Civil Aviation.
"It is therefore, with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that, on behalf of the government of Malaysia, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 an accident," said Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, director general of Malaysia's Department of Civil Aviation. "All 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives."
The search will continue for any debris in the Indian Ocean after satellite data suggested that the plane ran out of fuel and may be on the sea floor. Rahman said he knew the news would be difficult for families to hear, but it would allow them to begin collecting compensation.
The next of kin of all passengers will receive compensation once a claim of loss has been received, the BBC reported.
The announcement comes almost a year after the plane disappeared while headed to Beijing, China from the Kuala Lumpur airport in Malaysia in March.
"The governments of Malaysia, China and Australia have spared no expense and resources in the search for MH370," Rahman said. "This has been done with the paramount aim to find the aircraft and to seek answers. It has been done in hope of bringing some solace to the families of the passengers and crew on board MH370."
