KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 — Malaysia Airlines today said it had endeavoured to inform all the next of kin of those travelling on Flight MH370 that plane was about to be declared an “air accident” by authorities.

The flag carrier explained that it had sought to contact families of the 239 passengers and crew on January 29, before Malaysian authorities announced their conclusion that all aboard the plane were presumed dead.

“Prior to the scheduled announcement by the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia, all next-of-kin were notified via telephone calls and in certain instances by text messages, when the calls were unanswered.

“These were done personally by its Family Support Centre, caregivers or representatives from the airline’s regional offices,” it said in a statement today.

Families in China were notified via text messages by Malaysia Airlines’ Family Communications and Support Centre in Beijing, it added.

On Thursday, Malaysia officially declared passengers and crew members of Flight MH370 dead, just under 11 months after the ill-fated jetliner’s mysterious disappearance on March 8, 2014.

The declaration was made by the DCA pursuant to International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Chicago Convention, allowing the family members of the 239 passengers onboard to proceed with their claim for damages.

The news left families distraught, and moved some to demand that Malaysia withdraw the declaration until physical evidence of the plane is retrieved.