Australian MH17 bereaved families reach settlement with Malaysia Airlines

Five Australian families who were part of a class action against Malaysia Airlines after the deaths of their loved ones on Flight MH17 in 2014 have reached a confidential out-of-court settlement with the airline.
Investigators carried out their duties at the scene of MH17 downing in 2014 (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Investigators carried out their duties at the scene of MH17 downing in 2014 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Lawyers for both sides agreed to settle the case prior to an eight-day hearing, which was due to begin in the Federal Court in Sydney.

At a short hearing on June 26 morning, the terms of that settlement were approved by Justice Nye Perram. The barrister representing the families described the payout figure as "reasonable".

The settlement came ahead of next month's fifth anniversary of the downing of MH17.

The Boeing 777 was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot by a surface-to-air missile. All the 298 people on board the aircraft died in the crash, including 38 Australian citizens or residents.

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