Challenging news for the supporters of missing Malasyian Airlines Flight 370 crowdfunding campaign. With only nine more days until it closes on platform Indiegogo, the campaign will more likely not meet its hoped for goal of raising $5 million.
As previously reported, the passengers families launched the campaign to raise $5 million. The funds raised will be used to gather information about the mysterious disappearance and to hire a private investigator to find more information about the missing aircraft.
At this present time, the campaign has raised only $89,425 from 875 backer. It is a flexible funding campaign, so organizers will receive all funds regardless as to whether the goal is reached or not. The families have also made a few changes since the campaigns launch on June 9th.
According to The Malaysian Insider, the families have decided to revisit their approach to Europe and certain other markets whereby pledges will be sought from “wealthy donors” as well. Sarah Bajc, whose partner Philip Wood was on board the plane which disappeared from radar on March 8th while en route to Beijing, said the revised target through crowdfunding has been reduced to US $100,000 (RM321,000), adding that when such target is achieved, a similar or new target may be set.
“The timeline to reach these smaller targets will also be subject to extension,” Miss. Bajc explained, noting that the change is to allow for the families to still achieve the main target, but in more manageable steps instead of all in one go.
Miss Bajc stated the campaign’s organizers surveyed how people felt about doing a campaign to fund a private search and indications showed wide support. Unfortunately the support did not manifest itself through funds when the campaign kicked off. She stated an email to The Malaysian Insider, “I frankly do not understand it.”
She then added, We still believe that the reward amount must be a ‘life-changing’ sum or genuine whistleblowers won’t come forward and risk themselves. They will need enough money to disappear.”
Sharing details about what the $100,000 will be used for, Miss Bajc stated, “We hope to get something started, and be able to show concrete progress, even if it is just to eliminate theories that have been floating around for months. We hope this will motivate people to continue to contribute to our efforts. Investigations take time, energy and money, but if done correctly, will yield results.”
She then explained the project is not only about finding the truth about MH370, its passengers and the plane, but is also about the safety and security of airline passengers in general. “The disappearance of MH370 has highlighted many flaws in the aviation industry and the procedures used to screen passengers, cargo and monitor aircraft in flight.”
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