Island debris is from MH370: Malaysian PM

Island debris is from MH370: Malaysian PM
By Hannah Edensor


In the first real breakthrough in the mysterious case of Flight MH370, Malaysia’s PM has confirmed debris found on an Indian Ocean island a week ago is, in fact, from the plane.

The news confirms for the first time that the plane which mysteriously disappeared 17 months ago met a tragic end.

“Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts has conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370,” Najib Razak told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

French prosecutors used more cautious language, saying only there was a “very high probability” the wreckage came from MH370.

Malaysia Airlines this morning released a statement which called the discovery “breakthrough”.

“This is indeed a major breakthrough for us in resolving the disappearance of MH370. We expect and hope that there would be more objects to be found which would be able to help resolve this mystery,” the airline said.

“Moving forward, Malaysia Airlines’ priority is to continue to provide the latest updates and information to the families and it will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities on the investigation and recovery of this tragic accident.”

The Malaysia Airlines jet disappeared on March 8 last year, inexplicably veering off course en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board – including six Australians.

epa04873266 (FILE) A file picture dated 29 July 2015 shows a piece of debris, later identified as a flaperon from an airplane, washed ashore in Saint-Andre de la Reunion, eastern La Reunion island, France. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced 05 August 2015 that the flaperon found on the French Reunion Island a week ago was a part of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. EPA/ZINFOS974

Debris identified as a flaperon from an airplane washed ashore in Saint-Andre de la Reunion, eastern La Reunion island, France.

Experts say the flaperon, which was found on a beach on Reunion Island, indicates the plane went down in the area being searched by Australian authorities in the southern Indian ocean.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says the search will go on.

“The arrival of this flaperon in La Reunion is consistent with the search area we specified based on satellite information,” ATSB chief commissioner Martin Dolan said.

“We will continue our search in that area.”

Najib gave no indication that the analysis of the debris yielded any clues into the cause of the disappearance.

Many relatives accuse his government and the airline of a bungled response to the disaster, possible cover-up, and insensitive treatment of families, charges that are vehemently denied.

It is hoped that more detailed examination in the coming days can yield information on the final moments of the plane by showing how the flaperon detached itself from the wing, or whether it shows traces of an explosion or fire.

But some families insist the confirmation is not enough to lay the matter to rest.

They reiterated demands to know why the plane went off course, flying for hours after its communications and tracking systems were shut down, in what remains one of the biggest mysteries in the history of aviation.

“Now I want to know where the main body of the plane is so that we can take out the passengers and get the black box so we can know what happened,” Jacquita Gonzales, wife of MH370 chief steward Patrick Gome, said.

“Only that, for us, will be full closure.”

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

malaysia airlines mh370 Reunion Island

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