Debris very likely to be from a Boeing 777: Malaysia PM

Wreckage washed up on a remote Indian Ocean island is “very likely from a Boeing 777”, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak today said as speculation mounted it could be from MH370 that vanished mysteriously over a year ago with 239 people, including five Indians, on board.

Investigators headed to the French island of La Reunion off the east coast of Africa to verify whether the two-metre long flaperon, a wing component, that was found yesterday belonged to the ill-fated Boeing 777-200 of Malaysia Airlines that went off radars on March 8, 2014.

“Initial reports suggest that the debris is very likely to be from a Boeing 777, but we need to verify whether it is from flight MH370,” Najib wrote on his Facebook page.

Malaysia’s Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi earlier said it was “almost certain” that the wreckage was from a Boeing 777 aircraft.

France’s air crash investigation agency is studying a piece of the debris. According to a source close to the investigation, there is a unique element to the Boeing 777’s flaperon that Boeing observers believe they are seeing in photos though the observations are preliminary at the moment.

A flaperon is a part of the wing used to manage the lift and control the roll of an aircraft.

In January, Malaysia declared the disappearance of the plane one hour into the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bejing as an “accident” and all people on board as presumed dead.

The latest discovery of the debris could rest all speculation in one of the most baffling mysteries in aviation history and finally determine the fate of the people on board.

The wreckage would be shipped to Toulouse by French authorities where it will be examined by the BEA, France’s civil aviation authority, Najib said.

“To find out as fast as possible, the debris will be shipped by French authorities to Toulouse, site of the nearest office of the BEA, the French authority responsible for civil aviation accident investigations.

“A Malaysian team is on the way to Toulouse now. It includes senior representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Civil Aviation, the MH370 investigation team, and Malaysia Airlines,” he said.

Simultaneously, a second Malaysian team is travelling to where the debris was found on Reunion, Najib said, adding that the location is “consistent with the drift analysis provided to the Malaysian investigation team, which showed a route from the southern Indian Ocean to Africa“.

Najib also warned against any premature speculation, saying “as soon as we have more information or any verification we will make it public“.

“We have had many false alarms before, but for the sake of the families who have lost loved ones, and suffered such heartbreaking uncertainty, I pray that we will find out the truth so that they may have closure and peace. I promise the families of those lost that whatever happens, we will not give up,” he wrote.