After three months of failed search efforts, families have become convinced the authorities are concealing the truth about the disappearance of the Boeing 777-200 and launched the crowd-funding campaign in a bid to get answers.
The 'Reward MH370' campaign aims to raise at least USD 5 million "to encourage a whistleblower to come forward with information".
The USD 3 million would go to a whistleblower who would forward with key information related to the incident. Another USD 2 million will be utilised for hiring private investigators to follow up on leads.
The Boeing 777 is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, but an extensive search has turned up no sign of wreckage so far.
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"We are convinced that somewhere, someone knows something, and we hope this reward will entice him or her to come forward," said Ethan Hunt, who is heading the campaign.
"We are taking matters into our own hands," said Sarah Bajc, whose partner Philip Wood, 50, was on the flight.
The campaign, which was launched on Indiegogo, comes as Malaysia's acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein condemned Boeing and Rolls Royce this week for their part in the search for the missing jet and has hit back that responsibility for the entire investigation should fall on Malaysia, Australia and China.
Meanwhile, Australian transportation authorities are now moving to a revised underwater search zone in the southern Indian Ocean.
"The latest information and analysis confirms that MH370 will be found in close proximity to the arc," the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a statement.
"At the time MH370 reached this arc, the aircraft is considered to have exhausted its fuel and to have been descending.