K.S. Narendran, whose wife was aboard missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, may be more confused now than ever.
He watched Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announce that plane debris recently found on the French island of Reunion belonged to the ill-fated flight.
But then he heard a French official speak and muddy the issue. There are “very strong presumptions” that the part belongs to the missing Boeing 777, Paris Deputy Prosecutor Serge Mackowiak said, adding that more testing will be done to prove the connection conclusively.
“I was left a little confused to start with because the Prime Minister was very definitive, and the French were sort off … what shall we say … I think they were, there was a lot of wordplay there, and I was wondering therefore what to believe,” Narendran told CNN. “I was left somewhat confused and, frankly, a little angry and dismayed.”
Narendran’s wife of 25 years, Chandrika Sharma, was one of 239 people aboard MH370 when it disappeared in March 2014. He has been waiting for answers ever since.
“I didn’t hear facts. I didn’t hear the basics. I heard nothing, and so it leaves me wondering whether there is a foregone conclusion, and everybody is racing to the finish,” Narendran said.
The Prime Minister spoke early Thursday morning local time. Many of those with loved ones on Flight 370 were likely asleep when news of the debris discovery broke.
Malaysia Airlines sent a message to some family members shortly before Najib’s announcement.
“The burden and uncertainty faced by the families during this time has been unspeakable,” the Prime Minister said. “It is my hope that this confirmation, however tragic and painful, will at least bring certainty to the families and loved ones of the 239 people on board MH370.”
Sondra Wood, whose son Philip was on the flight, said she feels the announcement “is the beginning of closure.”
“We know that it’s definitely in the ocean. It may be a journey or we may never find the plane, but at this point at least we don’t have to wonder, or guess, or fruitlessly hope that they could still be alive,” she told CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper.”
“I loved him, miss him,” she said. “There’s a hole there where Philip isn’t.”
But, like Narendran, other family members say they are left with more heartache and questions than answers.
“I don’t believe this. I don’t!” said Xu Jinghong, whose mother was on board Flight 370. “I am furious and I think this announcement is very irresponsible.”
Jiang Hui, whose mother was on the flight, agreed.
“I am suspicious of Malaysia Airlines’ words because in the past they have a track record of going back and forth in what they say, of being true and not true. What I hope right now is for the Chinese officials to give me a confirmed answer,” he said.
Ghyslain Wattrelos had been scheduled to speak to CNN about the debris announcement, but backed out at the last minute. His wife and teenage son and daughter were on the plane.
“The Malaysian Embassy in Paris called me to give me the news,” he said. “I can’t speak. I’m sorry, I just can’t do it.”