Possible MH370 debris arrives in Malaysia for analysis

March 11, 2016 | 09:55

(0) user say

Department of Civil Aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman confirmed to AFP that the one-metre long (three-foot) object was in Malaysia.

The head of Mozambique's Civil Aviation Institute, Comandante Joao Abreu, shows a piece of debris found on a beach that could be from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, in Maputo, March 3, 2016.- Photo source: REUTERS/Grant Lee Neuenburg

KUALA LUMPUR: A piece of debris found in Mozambique arrived in Malaysia on Thursday (Mar 10) for initial investigations into whether it came from missing flight MH370 before being taken to Australia for deeper analysis, officials said.

Department of Civil Aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman confirmed to AFP that the one-metre long (three-foot) object was in Malaysia.

He declined to provide further details but Malaysia's transport minister told local media it would be passed along to Australia, which is leading a huge Indian Ocean search for the missing aircraft.

"We will send it to Australia for further examinations," Liow Tiong Lai was quoted as saying.

Liow has previously said there is a "high probability" the piece of debris came from a Boeing 777. The debris could provide fresh clues into the mystery of the Malaysia Airlines flight, a Boeing 777.

Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester said last week the debris would be analysed there by Malaysian and Australian officials and specialists, including from Boeing, to determine its origin.

Mozambican authorities on Monday had handed over the debris to Malaysian experts after it was found washed up on a sandbar by an American amateur investigator. Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the plane's disappearance.

MH370 was carrying 239 passengers and crew when it vanished on March 8, 2014 on an overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Last July, a wing fragment was found washed ashore on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion and later confirmed to be from the plane.

More possible MH370 debris in the same area was found on Sunday and authorities are studying it. But the search has been unable to pinpoint an actual crash site, which could help to solve the baffling mystery.

AFP / REUTERS

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional