Debris Confirmed to Be From Missing Malaysia Plane
Joe Cortez August 05, 2015
Malaysian prime minister confirms aircraft debris found last week are those of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
Early Wednesday afternoon, one week after an aircraft part washed up on Reunion Island, the prime minister of Malaysia told the world the debris belonged to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
“The international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370,” Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a televised press conference from Paris, as reported by The New York Times.
According to the Malaysian national news agency Bernama, Razak offered his sympathies and prayers to the families of those who were aboard the Boeing 777. “We now have physical evidence that, as I announced on March 24 last year, Flight MH370 tragically ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” Razak said, adding that although the confirmation of tragedy is painful, he hopes it will “at least bring certainty to the families and loved ones” of the victims.
“MH370’s disappearance marked us as a nation. We mourn with you, as a nation,” said Razak. “And I promise you this: Malaysia will always remember and honor those who were lost onboard MH370.”
Speculation that the debris belonged to MH370 began as soon that the part, identified as a flaperon, was discovered on a Reunion Island beach July 29. The part was secured by authorities on the island and flown to France for examination. BBC reports the debris’ inspection was led by French officials, with assistance from Boeing and the governments of Australia, China and Malaysia.
In a statement published right after the debris were discovered, Malaysia Airlines said it was “too premature for the airlines to speculate the origin of the flaperon.” However, in a statement to Reuters, the airline confirmed that the piece was from the missing aircraft. “We expect and hope that there would be more objects to be found which would be able to help resolve this mystery.”
MH370 was lost on March 8, 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) with 239 souls onboard.
[Photo: Lucas Marie/Associated Press via The New York Times]
