KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak confirmed today that a Boeing 777 wing part found on the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean is from Flight MH370, marking the first concrete breakthrough in the search for the Malaysian Airlines (MAS) jet since its mysterious disappearance nearly 17 months ago.

“Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370,” he told an early morning news conference at Putra World Trade Centre here.

He added that today’s findings support his previous statement back in March last year that the jetliner ended in the Indian Ocean.

“We now have physical evidence that, as I announced on 24^th March last year, flight MH370 tragically ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” Najib said.

However, experts from Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board who have seen the Reunion plane part were not yet fully satisfied, and called for further analysis, New York Times (NYT) reported separately today.

The US daily cited a person involved in the investigation saying their doubts were based on a modification to the flaperon—part of the wing—that did not appear to exactly match what they would expect from airline maintenance records.

The paper noted that the person cited was not authorised to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Today’s announcement follows the discovery of a flaperon that washed ashore on Reunion Island on July 29 whom experts later confirmed to be from a Boeing 777 and fuelled intense speculation it may belong to the missing MH370 as it was the only plane from the jetmaker to have been reported missing over the Indian Ocean.

The flaperon was moved to Toulouse, France on August 1 under an investigation led by french judge M. Alain Gaudino for further inspection to verify its origins.

Najib also conveyed his hope that today’s confirmation would provide the next-of-kin of those on board MH370 some closure.

“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 on board MH370,” he said.

In his brief statement, the prime minister also vowed to continue investigating the circumstances that led to the plane’s disappearance, adding that Putrajaya will never forget the incident of MH370.

“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.

“And I promise you this: Malaysia will always remember and honour those who were lost on board MH370,” he added.

MAS also conveyed their “deepest sorrow” to the family and friends of those on board the missing jetliner, adding that they hoped more clues would surface to explain what happened to the plane.

“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,” MAS said in a statement today.

MAS also noted that all the next-of-kin were informed of the confirmation ahead of Najib’s announcement.

On March 8 last year, Flight MH370 disappeared from radars while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew.