As Twitchy reported, the Malaysian prime minister recently announced that Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 crashed into the Indian Ocean. Families of the missing passengers found out a bit sooner than the rest of us — via text message:
Malaysia Airlines sends families text message to say they have to assume aircraft went down in sea with no survivors http://t.co/0kJ7PeX9ET
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/MissingPlanes/status/448097597279199232
Sickened by Malaysia Airlines’ notification strategy? You’re not alone:
Seriously?! MT @adriennemong The text msg Malaysia Airlines sent to Chinese #MH370 families about flight's fate pic.twitter.com/4K0fT12USW
— Melissa Caperton (@melissacaperton) March 24, 2014
"text message was sent to family members of passengers on the missing flight." Really, a text? Not a phone call? http://t.co/Hxx8wGXmod
— Carrie Emge (@omg_carrie) March 24, 2014
Crass in the extreme. Here's the Malaysia Airlines text MT@moneyries: pic.twitter.com/i7gBXgqMkF
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) March 24, 2014
There are no words. Appalling. RT @paulwaugh: Crass in the extreme. Here's the Malaysia Airlines text pic.twitter.com/Bg4ySJNQZw
— Bec (@LeB00) March 24, 2014
A TEXT message? No. Just no. RT @nbcnightlynews: BREAKING: Malaysia Airlines sent txt msg to families: pic.twitter.com/hPBubr1QGR
— Lauren Smith (@LaurnSmith) March 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/Simon_anderson1/status/448103304816762880
Horrible. MT @sgallman: WHY?-Malaysia Airlines sent a text message to family members of those onboard MH 370 BEFORE formally briefing them .
— Kay Jones Davis (@TheKayJ) March 24, 2014
So wait, Malaysia Airlines is informing people that their relatives are 99% likely dead… by text message!?
— Graham Sutherland (Polynomial^DSS) (@gsuberland) March 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/BrianAvallone/status/448105250537603072
https://twitter.com/_lopezLP/status/448105165951078400
So they informed the families of flt #MH370 via text they all had died…really Malaysia? Cause sending a spokesman would have been to hard?
— ericlmitchell (@EricLMitchell) March 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/Vivaciously_Val/status/448104413685878784
https://twitter.com/Nojuicejustjin/status/448103721357312000
If you send me a text message….telling me my family has perished, I'M FUCKING SHIT UP..wtf is wrong with Malaysia
— Merpuss (@gorgeousmia91) March 24, 2014
Seriously, they sent a text message to the families to let them know? Way to go, Malaysia Airlines, you are cold!
— LaShane (@lashanedodge) March 24, 2014
So Malaysia sent a (SMS) TEXT MESSAGE TO FAMILIES? Uhhh stupid is stupid. #MH370 get your crap together Malaysia!
— Mariana (#21) (@manamitru) March 24, 2014
Pretty disgusting work by @MAS (Malaysia Airlines) to TEXT the news to the families of the deceased. No respect, none whatsoever. #MH370
— Sofia Petkar (@SophiePetkar) March 24, 2014
https://twitter.com/CarsonDaly/status/448106525798989824
BREAKING NEWS. Malaysia Authorities inform family by text msg that their loved ones were lost. U should be ashamed of yourselves
— Loren Ridinger (@lorenridinger) March 24, 2014
Disgusted that Malaysia Airlines text families that the plane is completely lost.
— Laura Pomfrey (@LauraPomfrey) March 24, 2014
Malaysia Airlines text family of victims on MH370 (via @NBCNews) pic.twitter.com/D5ndqYaTeJ | Impersonal. Cold. Inhumane.
— Amalini (@Amaliniii) March 24, 2014
It makes me sick to my stomach seeing Malaysia Airlines using TEXT MESSAGES to inform relatives of the victims of their deaths #MH370
— Reginaldo Rosario ?? (@Regi1700) March 24, 2014
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.
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Update:
INBOX: Malaysia Airlines releases new statement, emphasizes SMS was only used as "additional means" of comm – http://t.co/AUVZMv1xNZ
— Michael van Poppel (@mpoppel) March 24, 2014
The full statement, via BNO News:
It is with deep sadness that Malaysia Airlines earlier this evening had to confirm to the families of those on board Flight MH370 that it must now be assumed the flight had been lost. As the Prime Minister said, respect for the families is essential at this difficult time. And it is in that spirit that we informed the majority of the families in advance of the Prime Minister’s statement in person and by telephone. SMSs were used only as an additional means of communicating with the families. Those families have been at the heart of every action the company has taken since the flight disappeared on 8th March and they will continue to be so. When Malaysia Airlines receives approval from the investigating authorities, arrangements will be made to bring the families to the recovery area and until that time, we will continue to support the ongoing investigation.
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