It has been confirmed that a piece of aircraft debris found washed up on the Indian Ocean island, La Reunion, belonged to the missing MH370.
The new information, released by Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, confirms that the flight, which mysteriously disappeared in March last year, did indeed crash into the Indian Ocean.
‘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,’ Said Najib Razak.
‘We now have physical evidence that, as I announced on 24th March last year, flight MH370 tragically ended in the southern Indian Ocean.’
The world came to a halt on March 8 last year, after the Beijing bound Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 never arrived at its destination after leaving Kuala Lumpur with 239 passengers and crew. As further information that the jet had veered off course came to light, the global hunt for the aircraft extended to the East Indian Ocean.
The two-metre-long flaperon (a component of a wing), as well as a piece of what is believed to be a suitcase, was discovered on the coast of La Reunion, a French volcanic island of 850,000 people near Madagascar last Wednesday. After being retrieved by French authorities, the part was taken to Toulouse, France, for examination by French, Malaysian and Chinese experts.
The news possibly ends a torturous wait for the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew who have been left without answers or evidence about the missing flight since March last year. But the single biggest question still remains; what happened to the aircraft? Despite the new information, many next of kin are still vexed by this pressing question.
Najib Razak did not suggest the news conjured any further information about the tragedy, but says he remains committed to finding out.
‘I would like to assure all those affected by this tragedy that the government of Malaysia is committed to do everything within our means to find out the truth of what happened,’ he said.
‘MH370’s disappearance marked us as a nation. We mourn with you, as a nation.’
Malaysian Airlines fortified this promise in a statement that followed.
‘We expect and hope that there would be more objects to be found which would be able to help solve this mystery.’
For now, we can only hope that this information comes as a sliver of comfort to the family and loved ones of those aboard the missing flight.
Image Credits: AFP
