Flight 370 Families Start Seeing Money

There are still no answers for the families of Flight 370's passengers, but there now is money. Seven families have so far received $50,000 in initial compensation, and Malaysia Airlines' insurer is reviewing the claims of 40 more, the BBC reports. But the Wall Street Journal calls the payments "interim compensation"; the final compensation payment hasn't been decided and could end up being resolved in court.

The $50,000 payments will cost the insurer almost $12 million, the International Business Times reports. However, under international rules the families can claim as much as $175,000 per passenger—or $41.8 million total. A Malaysian official says the determination of full payment will come when "we announce the issue on the tragedy MH370 is over." The Journal notes such final amount are generally established after the wreckage is located and the cause of the crash established. (The latest clue in the flight's disappearance? A "dull oomph.")