Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian government have received widespread criticism for the way they dealt with relatives of the 239 people on doomed flight MH370.

Such was the fury that some grieving family members in Beijing threatened to go on hunger strike as they anxiously awaited news. Others have marched on the city's Malaysian Embassy, throwing bottles and chanting "Liars!".

They hit out at the indirect and sporadic way they say information was passed to them and how they felt they had to rely on the media for information.

The Chinese government also accused the Malaysian government of holding back details, and said it hampered the search for possible survivors.

Eventually, when Malaysian authorities delivered the news the plane had crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, killing everyone on board, they did speak to relatives first.

But again they sparked controversy by sending text messages.

Aviation crisis management expert Raine Marcus says it has been a "Herculean task" for the Malaysian authorities, given the aviation industry has never been through an incident like this before.

But she said that even if they had no updates, they should have been informing families directly "so they understand nothing is being concealed, hidden, and they are not being lied to or cheated as they have accused the (Malaysian) authorities of doing".

Analysts say government inexperience might explain some of the mismanagement of events, pointing out that Malaysia is a country that does not have earthquakes or tsunamis and so is not well-versed in disaster management.

Others have been more forgiving of the airline's handling of the crisis.

Kirsti Kauronen, communications manager at PR consultancy Cison UK, praised the airline's digital response which "proved central in providing updates and responding to media reports, real time".

She also praised how quickly it put up a 'dark site' - a pre-made website stripped of all promotional activities that is activated when a crisis occurs.

It proved the airline's communications team was "organised, trained and prepared to handle the task at hand," she said.

However, others say the handling has more closely resembled a masterclass in how not to manage a crisis.

Here is a timeline of Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian government's PR blunders:

March 8th:

It takes five hours for Malaysia Airlines to admit they had lost contact with MH370. When the details do trickle in, they are vague. The search area is initially wrongly given as taking place off Vietnam's south coast.

At Beijing airport, there are distressing scenes as families complain about the way the airline is handling the incident. Around 500 relatives are taken to a hotel room and left to await information.

March 10th:

It is revealed two men boarded the missing plane with stolen passports.

Malaysia's civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman told a news conference the pair were "not Asian-looking men". Bizarrely, he added "Do you know a footballer by the name of (Mario) Balotelli? (This is) what he looks like".

March 12th:

Malaysia's acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein tells a news conference "Malaysia has nothing to hide".

He added "I would like to refer to news reports suggesting that the aircraft may have continued flying for some time after the last contact. Those reports are inaccurate". He also denied crew members' homes had been searched by police.

It is now known the plane was flying for at least five hours and the homes of both pilots were searched.

March 19th:

A news conference in Kuala Lumpur descends into chaos as two relatives of passengers attempt to stage a protest. They are forcibly removed, and acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein later orders an inquiry into the man-handling.

In another news conference, Mr. Hishammuddin says authorities have received more radar data on the missing plane but claims they are not permitted to reveal other countries' information.

March 22nd:

A transcript of the final conversations between the crew and air traffic control is finally revealed - two weeks after the aircraft vanished.

March 24th:

Relatives scream in anguish as they are told by text message that evidence strongly suggests the plane has crashed, claiming the lives of all those on board.

Malaysia Airlines later issues a statement, stressing it informed relatives not only by text but "via all channels". Families issue a scathing attack on Malaysia's government, airline and military.

March 25th:

Chinese relatives slam Malaysian authorities for saying everyone on board is dead, without having proof the plane has crashed. They march to the Malaysian Embassy, where they throw bottles, try to rush the gate and chant "Liars!"