THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The family of two brothers killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 called the carrier rigid and bureaucratic Saturday. The family of victims Miguel and Shaka Panduwinata complained that the airline has not offered any grief counselling by the airline. They added that the airline refused to pay for the boys' grandmother to fly home to Texas from Amsterdam and has not yet paid out an initial reimbursement of $5,000 it pledged to victims' next of kin.
Miguel and Shaka's next of kin are not the only ones who have not received the $5,000 payout meant to cover initial expenses incurred by grieving families. Silene Fredriksz-Hoogzand, whose son Bryce and his girlfriend Daisy Oehlers died on their way to a vacation in Bali, said she has not received any money yet. Malaysia Airlines said in a written response emailed to The Associated Press that only "immediate next-of-kin" are eligible for travel reimbursements. The carrier added that distributing the $5,000 payment to next-of-kin "requires a thorough verification process" and that the needed documentation is being prepared.
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— The Associated Press
