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MH370 search: Malaysia urges caution on Reunion debris find MH370 search: Debris found on Reunion being sent to France
(35 minutes later)
Malaysia has said that it would be "premature" to speculate on whether debris washed up on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion comes from the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. Debris found on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion is to be transported to France to find out whether it is from the missing airliner MH370, Malaysia's prime minister has said.
A two-metre long piece of wreckage was found on Wednesday. Initial reports suggest the two-metre long wreckage is very likely to be from a Boeing 777, Najib Razak said.
Malaysia's Deputy Transport Minister, Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, said it was "almost certain" that the wreckage was from a Boeing 777 aircraft. Malaysia Airlines' flight MH370 is the only Boeing 777 to have disappeared over an ocean.
MH370 is the only Boeing 777 to have disappeared over an ocean.
There were 239 people on board when the plane went missing in March 2014.There were 239 people on board when the plane went missing in March 2014.
On Thursday, a municipal employee found what appeared to be a very badly damaged suitcase on the Reunion coast, according to local media (in French). Mr Najib said French authorities were taking the debris to the southern French city of Toulouse - the site of the nearest office of the French body responsible for air accident investigations (the BEA) - to verify it as quickly as possible.
The item was found at Saint-Andre, the same location as Wednesday's plane debris. A Malaysian team of investigators and representatives from the government and the airline was travelling to Toulouse, and a second team to the site of the find on Reunion, he said.
Both the suspected suitcase and the wing part are in the custody of French authorities at St Denis airport on Reunion, reports say. Najib Razak said the location was "consistent with the drift analysis provided to the Malaysian investigation team".
"As soon as we have more information or any verification we will make it public...
"I promise the families of those lost that whatever happens, we will not give up."
Will this solve aviation mystery?Will this solve aviation mystery?
Aviation experts who have studied photos of the debris found on Reunion say it does resemble a flaperon - a moving part of the wing surface - from a Boeing 777. Aviation experts who have studied photos of the debris found on Reunion on Wednesday say it does resemble a flaperon - a moving part of the wing surface - from a Boeing 777.
Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said it would take about two days to verify if the piece of wreckage was from MH370. On Thursday, a municipal employee found what appeared to be a very badly damaged suitcase on the Reunion coast, according to local media (in French).
The wife of the in-flight supervisor for the missing plane, Jacquita Gonzales, told the BBC that she was "torn" by the news. The item was found at Saint-Andre, the same location as the earlier debris.
"A part of me hopes that it is [MH370] so that I could have some closure and bury my husband properly but the other part of me says 'no, no, no' because there is still hope," she told the BBC by phone.
Reunion, a French overseas department, is about 600km (370 miles) east of Madagascar.Reunion, a French overseas department, is about 600km (370 miles) east of Madagascar.
The search efforts for MH370, led by Australia, are focused on a broad expanse of the southern Indian Ocean - around 4,000km to the east of Reunion.The search efforts for MH370, led by Australia, are focused on a broad expanse of the southern Indian Ocean - around 4,000km to the east of Reunion.
Australia's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss has said there is a distinctive marking on the piece of debris found on Reunion Island. The wife of the in-flight supervisor for the missing plane, Jacquita Gonzales, told the BBC that she was "torn" by the news.
He said the number on the part, BB670, could be a maintenance number, but is not a serial number. "A part of me hopes that it is [MH370] so that I could have some closure and bury my husband properly but the other part of me says 'no, no, no' because there is still hope," she told the BBC by phone.
Australian scientists were "looking at the photographs to see whether the barnacles on the wreckage reflect the amount of time that it would've been in the water", he said.
"Clearly if this is wreckage from MH370 it's an important breakthrough, particularly for families," Mr Truss added.
After MH370 disappeared from radar screens, experts analysed data from faint "pings" the aircraft sent to satellites to narrow down its last known location.After MH370 disappeared from radar screens, experts analysed data from faint "pings" the aircraft sent to satellites to narrow down its last known location.
It was this information that identified the search area in the southern Indian Ocean, west of Perth.It was this information that identified the search area in the southern Indian Ocean, west of Perth.
Oceanographer David Griffin of Australia's national science agency told the BBC that the location of the find, in Reunion, was "consistent with where we think debris might have turned up".Oceanographer David Griffin of Australia's national science agency told the BBC that the location of the find, in Reunion, was "consistent with where we think debris might have turned up".
Missing Malaysia plane: What we knowMissing Malaysia plane: What we know
Malaysia is in contact with French air accident investigators and is sending a team of experts to Reunion.
A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said: "We have noticed the reports and are wasting no time in obtaining and checking the information."A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said: "We have noticed the reports and are wasting no time in obtaining and checking the information."
More than half of those on board the missing plane were Chinese citizens.More than half of those on board the missing plane were Chinese citizens.
A group of relatives of many of the Chinese passengers said in a statement that they wanted "100%" certainty about where the part is from, and that the search for the airliner should continue.A group of relatives of many of the Chinese passengers said in a statement that they wanted "100%" certainty about where the part is from, and that the search for the airliner should continue.
Analysis: BBC's transport correspondent Richard WestcottAnalysis: BBC's transport correspondent Richard Westcott
Experts should be able to tell fairly quickly if this is a piece of MH370. Aircraft parts have individual serial numbers on them, and the airlines should have records of all those numbers.Experts should be able to tell fairly quickly if this is a piece of MH370. Aircraft parts have individual serial numbers on them, and the airlines should have records of all those numbers.
So in theory, investigators could check them and give a positive or negative ID. If it is part of the aircraft, it's washed up thousands of miles from where search teams continue to look for debris at the bottom of the sea.So in theory, investigators could check them and give a positive or negative ID. If it is part of the aircraft, it's washed up thousands of miles from where search teams continue to look for debris at the bottom of the sea.
And realistically, although it would confirm the aircraft crashed and broke up, a piece of wing is unlikely to reveal much more about what actually happened on board the plane.And realistically, although it would confirm the aircraft crashed and broke up, a piece of wing is unlikely to reveal much more about what actually happened on board the plane.
But these are all big "ifs" right now. It could still be yet another false alarm.But these are all big "ifs" right now. It could still be yet another false alarm.
Follow Richard: @BBCwestcottFollow Richard: @BBCwestcott
The tenacious deep-sea hunt for MH370The tenacious deep-sea hunt for MH370