The Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has confirmed in a press conference that the mysterious debris found on Reunion Island was from the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines MH370 flight. The debris was found on July 29 about 3,800 miles from MH370’s last known location and Reunion Island is about 2,300 miles from the middle of the search area.
Design experts from Boeing, as well as other aviation experts, have helped to verify that the debris, which is a piece of flaperon, was indeed from a Boeing 777, the same plane model as MH370. MH370 was carrying 239 people on board and was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared from the radar on March 8, 2014.
The PM is committed to finding out why and how the plane went down. He said at the press con, “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 Réunion Island is indeed from MH370.”
The loved ones of those on board were notified via a mass message. Many of the victims’ family members are saying that this isn’t the end. Even though a flaperon has been found, they are still demanding that the whole plane be recovered, and that the bodies of the victims be found as well.
Malaysian Airlines has also released an official statement regarding the announcement that stated, “Malaysia Airlines would like to sincerely convey our deepest sorrow to the families and friends of the passengers onboard Flight MH370 on the news that the flaperon found on Réunion Island on 29 July was indeed from Flight MH370.”
“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.”
We’ll keep you updated if there are any latest developments.