Indian Ocean wreckage is from missing airliner MH370, confirms Malaysian PM

Najib Razak says that they will not stop looking for what really happened to MH370

KUALA LAMPUR: Debris found on an Indian Ocean island a week ago is from MH370, Malaysia's prime minister announced on Thursday, confirming for the first time that the plane which mysteriously disappeared 17 months ago had crashed.

"Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts has conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370," Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters.

An int team of experts hv conclusively confirmed tt the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed frm MH370 https://t.co/UwRsK1zdA2

— Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) August 5, 2015

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Razak added that "We now have physical evidence that, as I announced on 24th March last year, flight MH370 tragically ended in the southern Indian Ocean."

"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 onboard MH370. They have our deepest sympathy and prayers."

He added that they will continue the search for the truth behind what happened to 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. MH370’s disappearance marked us as a nation. We mourn with you, as a nation.

"And I promise you this: Malaysia will always remember and honour those who were lost on board MH370."

A statement from Malaysian Airlines said that the wreckage's origin had been jointly confirmed by the French Authorities, Bureau d’ Enquetes et d‘ Analyses pour la Securites de I’AviationCivile (BEA), the Malaysian Investigation Team, Technical Representative from PRC and Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) in Toulouse, France.

"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."