Aircraft debris found on Madagascar last year has been confirmed by Malaysian authorities as likely from MH370.
The five pieces of debris were handed to Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke on November 30 by wreck hunter Blaine Gibson and some relatives of those lost in the MH370 disappearance.
A Malaysian report from the MH370 Safety Investigation Team said most parts were from an aircraft but the floor panel was from a Boeing 777 and “most likely MH370.”
In November, Mr Gibson told AirlineRatings.com that “the debris proves two things – that MH370 crashed violently and it almost certainly is in the Southern Indian Ocean.”
The next of kin said at the time they want assurances from Mr. Loke that the Malaysian Government would continue efforts to find a satisfactory resolution to the mystery of MH370, which disappeared on March 8, 2014, with 239 aboard.
The piece key piece of debris found at Sandravinany, south Madagascar, was identified using a fragment of a label still attached as part of a floor panel from a Boeing 777.
“Don Thompson, one of the Independent Group investigating MH370’s disappearance, found the actual identification label for the Boeing 777,” Mr. Gibson said.
An important clue was the piece contained a portion of a placard with the identifying characters WPPS61.
Floor panel showing a small corner of a label with number VPPS61According to another IG member, Victor Iannello, Mr. Thompson was able to determine that the full placard number was BAC27WPPS61 and he found a similar placard on the floorboard of wreckage from MH17.
This analysis has been confirmed by the Malaysian authorities.
Mr Gibson said that “locals tell me there are many more pieces of debris washed up but it needs to Malaysia to offer rewards.”
Mr. Gibson has been giving locals small rewards for debris.
While the two extensive searches have not turned up the main body of wreckage, Mr Gibson believes that the main body of wreckage probably lies just outside the search area.
