Just before Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that Flight 370 had crashed into the Indian Ocean, Malaysia Airlines notified the passengers' families of the news via text.

Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board survived. As you hear in the next hour from Malaysia's Prime Minister, we must now accept all evidence that the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean.

The airlines later told CNN that they also provided counseling and in-person briefings to the family members.

The family members were, of course, devastated by the news.