PUTRAJAYA, Aug 6 ― The flaperon recovered in Reunion Island is a physical proof that could lead to the closure of the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Beside the flaperon, he said other plane debris had also been recovered in the island, but further verification needed to be done to determine whether it was part of MH370.
“Without physical proof, it has been challenging. Now we have physical proof. It brings us closer to the truth, it brings us closer to the closure,” he told a media briefing, here today.
The briefing was held following the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak earlier today that the international experts had confirmed the flaperon found on the French Reunion Island is from Flight MH370 ― supporting an earlier conclusion that the Malaysia Airlines plane crashed into the Indian Ocean almost 17 months ago.
Liow said the flaperon's recovery location was consistent with the drift analysis determined by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
“From the graph and the grid pattern, the flow of debris covers until even Madagascar. The grid pattern also confirmed that MH370 went down at the southern Indian Ocean,” he said.
He said the search mission which was now entering the second phase involving an area of 60,000 sq km would continue and expected to be completed latest by early next year.
However further discussion would be held with the team experts to obtain their views on whether the search should proceed in the existing area or search for MH370 main debris in the new area, he said.
He said Malaysia, China and Australia would also hold a ministerial tripartite meeting to discuss the next step in the MH370 search.
“I have contacted the Chinese Transport Minister on the matter and we will discuss a date soon for the meeting,” he said.
Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared from the radar on March 8, 2014 with 239 passengers and crew. ― Bernama
