PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) yesterday held a ceremony in remembrance of the 13 crew members who vanished along with the passengers on board MH370 a year ago.

Some 500 MAS employees and about 100 family members of the crew attended the gathering held at the MAS Academy in Kelana Jaya.

MAS senior officials, including group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof, were also present.

Among the families who attended the event were those of MH370 pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah and stewardess Christine Tan.

“Today we acknowledge the reality of our shared loss and remember 13 dear friends and colleagues who left us when MH370 disappeared one year ago,” said Md Nor.

Ahmad Jauhari, meanwhile, paid tribute to MAS employees for their dedication and support to the airline and the families of the passengers.

“While MH370 was tragic for all of us, it also brought out the best in Malaysia Airlines,” he said.

“Watching how the whole organisation came together, united, supported each other as a family in crisis, really amazed me. I am deeply honoured and touched by the spirit of volunteerism by everyone who came forward to offer help in any way they could.”

Search operations, led by Australia, are expected to be completed by May. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 9, 2015.