Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370 Update: Suitcase Found On Reunion Island, Wing Flap Confirmed As Boeing 777

Officials confirmed the airplane debris found on the coast of the island of Reunion belongs to a Boeing 777, raising hopes that it could be part of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370. Additional new debris was found of the beaches of Reunion including a suitcase, which is being examined for any connection to Flight MH 370.

Wing Flap Found On Reunion Island Confirmed As Boeing 777

On Wednesday, a piece of airplane debris was found on the coast of the French island of Reunion, an island near Madagascar. And speculation soon arose that it belonged to the missing flight MH 370. The debris was tentatively identified as possibly belonging to a piece of the wing of a Boeing 777, the same type of plane as MH 370.

Malaysian Deputy Travel Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi confirmed that the debris was from a Boeing 777 on Friday, noting that investigators found the matching part number “657 BB” on the debris. “From the part number, it is confirmed that it is from a Boeing 777 aircraft,” Kaprawi said. The debris is a flaperon – a wing component – of a Boeing 777.

However, identifying the type of aircraft is only half the battle. As investigators and officials have stated, the serial number of the part will need to be found in order to confirm the aircraft the debris came from. Still, many are hopeful that this new debris could help investigators determine what happened to flight MH 370.

“It’s the first real evidence that there is a possibility that a part of the aircraft may have been found. It’s too early to make that judgment, but clearly we are treating this as a major lead,” said Australian Transport Minister Warren Truss.

Locals Continue Searching Coast Of Reunion For Signs Of MH 370

The flaperon is currently being transported to France to undergo testing. Meanwhile, searchers are combing the beaches of Reunion and a reinvigorated search effort has begun in the Indian Ocean. One beach cleaner discovered a suitcase, though its origin remains unknown, and an empty bottle of Chinese mineral water. Another found an empty bottle of detergent made in Indonesia.

“We are searching all the time now. I hope to find something that will definitely it’s from the plane so that the families can have some relief from their mourning,” said Johnny Begue, one of the many searching the shore for any evidence.