In search of a better life, Weeks left Christchurch, New Zealand, and moved to Perth, Australia, in 2011 with his wife, Danica, and his two sons, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

He was headed to Mongolia to start a new job in the mining industry.

''He had just taken on a new role; that's why he was heading to Mongolia,'' Mr Weeks' sister, Sara Weeks, told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''It was a really good job and he was going to be paid very well. He was excited and looking forward to getting started. It was going to set them up. When [his wife] kissed him goodbye she was hoping he would be back in a month.''

The other passenger from New Zealand was Ximin Wang, 50.