A woman writes a message on a dedication board for the victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 airliner and the missing Flight MH370, in Subang Jaya outside Kuala Lumpur July 23, 2014. All sides in Ukraine's civil war must protect civilia
IN PHOTO: The moist towelette from a Malaysian Airlines flight, discovered on a Western Australian beach in July 2014, is unlikely to help the search of the missing flight MH370. The towelette was discovered by a WA couple. IN PHOTO: A woman writes a message on a dedication board for the victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 airliner and the missing Flight MH370, in Subang Jaya outside Kuala Lumpur July 23, 2014. All sides in Ukraine's civil war must protect civilians and take what measures they can to search for the victims of downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 airliner and ensure their bodies are returned, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Samsul Said

The disappearance of Malaysia Airline Flight MH370 has officially been declared an accident on Thursday. The Malaysian government said all of its 239 passengers and crew are presumed dead.

The formal declaration, read by civil aviation director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, now allows the victims’ families to proceed with the compensation claims with the airline or insurers. He added that the recovery of the missing aircraft remains a top priority.

“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 in accordance with the Standards of Annexes 12 and 13 to the Chicago Convention and that all 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives,” Rahman said in a recorded statement aired on local television.

He continued, “Without in any way intending to diminish the feelings of the families, it is hoped that this declaration will enable the families to obtain the assistance they need, in particular through the compensation process.”

China’s foreign ministry also called for the compensation of the victims’ families following Malaysia’s declaration, saying the Malaysian side should fulfil its obligation of compensation and provide the families support and assistance.

“We also call on the Malaysian side to remain fully committed to the search and investigation efforts and keep the families updated on the latest progress,” spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement.

MH370 was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared from radar on March 8 at 1:21 am, less than an hour after take-off. It is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. It was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, 152 of them from China, 50 from Malaysia. Six passengers were Australians, two were Canadians, and two were New Zealanders.