Washed-up wreckage confirmed as being from missing flight MH370

Debris found on an Indian Ocean island last week is from MH370, Malaysia’s prime minister announced last night, confirming for the first time that the plane, which mysteriously disappeared 17 months ago, had crashed. The Boeing 777 jetliner vanished on March 8, 2014, while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. It is believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean, but the reason remains one of aviation’s biggest mysteries.

The burden and uncertainty faced by the families during this time has been unspeakable. It is my hope that this confirmation, however tragic and painful, will at least bring certainty to the families and loved ones of the 239 people onboard MH370.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak

The piece of debris, a wing component called a flaperon, was found last week on a beach on the French island La Reunion, near Madagascar. It was flown to the French city of Toulouse where it was examined on Wednesday by French and Malaysian technical experts and representatives from Boeing to determine any link to MH370. Many relatives accuse Malaysia’s government and the airline of a bungled response to the disaster, a possible coverup and insensitive treatment of families, charges that are vehemently denied.

Now I want to know where the main body of the plane is so that we can take out the passengers and get the black box so we can know what happened. Only that, for us, will be full closure.

Jacquita Gonzales, wife of MH370 chief steward Patrick Gomes

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