Airlines

‘MH370: The Plane That Disappeared’ streaming on Netflix

On March 8, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 departed Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on a regular red-eye flight with 239 passengers and crew. No one in command could explain why the plane vanished from radar screens shortly after takeoff. The three-part speculative docuseries MH370: The Aircraft That Disappeared brings together a global network of family members, experts, and investigative journalists who are all still looking for answers nine years after the catastrophe.

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What really happened to MH370?

When Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 disappeared in 2014, it plunged the passengers’ next of kin into a waking nightmare. Episode 1 of MH370: The Plane That Disappeared takes a close look into the first few hours and days following the plane’s disappearance, including what happened when conspiracy theories and false accusations started to spiral out of control.

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Further complicating the story of the disappearance of MH370 was what happened later. In July of that same year, Malaysian Airlines lost another aircraft when MH17 was shot down by a Russian missile. It was recently confirmed by an international team of investigators that there were “strong indications” that it was approved by Russian heads of state, which Russia has denied. In Episode 2 of MH370: The Plane That Disappeared, experts discuss how the chances of two aircraft from the same airline crashing in such a short time frame are infinitesimal, causing the conspiracy theories to go even further.

Who’s featured in MH370: The Plane That Disappeared?

Jeff Wise, science journalist and author of The Plane That Wasn’t There: Why We Haven’t Found MH370, is featured in the docuseries along with reporter and foreign correspondent Florence de Changy. Many of the victims’ next of kin including families from China, Malaysia, Australia and France are interviewed. Says director Louise Malkinson, “[The families] want people to keep talking about this. The families want a platform to be able to say, ‘Come on, it’s been nine years.’ They were all united on that.”

Is the search for MH370 still ongoing?

Authorities officially ended the search for MH370 in 2017, but many independent investigators and aviation experts are still looking for answers. Says journalist Jeff Wise, as long as the plane is not found, “the entire aviation industry has an asterisk next to it.”

Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.