MH370 proof raises hopes of solving flight mystery

Chinese relatives of MH370 passengers express doubts over Malaysian PM's announcement regarding debris found recently

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia said Thursday plane wreckage found on a remote Indian Ocean island was from ill-fated flight MH370 and more debris had washed ashore, raising hopes that one of aviation's great mysteries could be solved.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced a two-metre-long wing part that was discovered on French Reunion Island last week was definitely from the plane, the first proof that it met a tragic end in the Indian Ocean 17 months ago.

"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," Najib said in an early-morning briefing after tests in France.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777's disappeared on March 8 last year, inexplicably veering off course en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

The disappearance created one of the biggest mysteries in the history of aviation, sparking a colossal hunt in the Indian Ocean based on satellite data which hinted at MH370's possible path.

French prosecutors involved in determining if the wing part was from MH370 used more cautious language than Najib, saying only there was a "very high probability" it came from the plane.

But Malaysia Airlines hailed the news as a "major breakthrough" that it said would hopefully help to find the plane somewhere in the depths of the Indian Ocean.

Australian authorities, who have led a multinational search for the plane, also expressed renewed confidence that the frustrating search for the body of the plane in the Indian Ocean would succeed.

"It suggests that for the first time we might be a little bit closer to solving this baffling mystery," Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.

On Thursday afternoon, Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong then revealed more debris suspected to be from a plane -- including window panes and seat cushions -- had been found on Reunion island. However, he said, they had not yet been verified as coming from MH370.

Anguished family members have awaited news with a mix of anticipation and dread, and some welcomed the first concrete proof of the plane's fate.

Sara Weeks, the sister of MH370 passenger Paul Weeks of New Zealand, said the confirmation ended "a week of turmoil".

"We've had 17 months of nothing... so actually finding something is the first step towards pinpointing where it is," she told the Fairfax New Zealand media group.

Anger and disbelief

Some relatives have accused Najib's government and the airline of a bungled response to the disaster, possible cover-up, and insensitive treatment of families, charges that have been vehemently denied.

Some continued to insists on Thursday they would not believe the Malaysian authorities until the plane's black box data and flight recorders were recovered, or bodies were found.

"Where is my husband's body? Have any passengers' belongings been found? No. It's just a piece that they found," said Elaine Chew, whose husband Tan Size Hiang was part of the cabin crew. "No, this is not closure for me."

Chinese relatives of passengers aboard missing flight MH370 expressed anger and disbelief on Thursday, after Malaysia's prime minister said wreckage found on a French Indian Ocean island was from the plane.

Most of the passengers aboard the flight were Chinese, and around a dozen of their relatives gathered outside the Beijing offices of Malaysia Airlines, with emotions running high.

"I don't believe this latest information about the plane, they have been lying to us from the beginning," said Zhang Yongli, whose daughter was on the plane. "I know my daughter is out there, but they won't tell us the truth," he added, waving Chinese and Communist Party flags.

Still, China's foreign ministry said Najib's declaration "confirmed the verdict on the Malaysia Airlines accident", and expressed "deep grief" for the passengers.

Martin Dolan, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), said he was now "confident that we're looking in the right area and we'll find the aircraft there". But he told ABC radio it was "too early to tell" what exactly happened to the aircraft and that close examination of the flaperon was necessary.

Gerry Soejatman, a Jakarta-based aviation consultant, called the confirmed MH370 link a "huge step".

"People want all the answers, but look, let's be real. We must be glad that we found something at all. Now we know roughly where it might have crashed," he said. "This answers a lot of questions actually. It eliminates other theories, conspiracy theories. If the black box is found later on, it is likely we could get more answers."

Bao Lanfang, whose grandson was on board, told reporters, "Everyone has been lying to us", before collapsing on the floor and crying. "I will do anything to see him again," the 63-year-old added through her tears. "Just tell me what I need to do, I'll do it."

French officials who analysed the wreckage said only that there was a "very high probability" it came from MH370 and Wen Wancheng, whose 34-year-old son was on board, noted: "The French examiners were instead very cautious. They haven't drawn a conclusion. How can you jump to the conclusion that the plane has crashed simply on the basis of a single piece of debris? It could be pulled from other aircraft."

On a social media group other relatives expressed similar sentiments, saying: "Don't believe them! They must have switched the debris! We do believe all our relatives will come back safe and sound!"

There was a heavy police presence outside the airline's office to greet the relatives, who say they have faced repeated harassment from state security.

Elsewhere Chinese people took to social media sites to express scepticism about Malaysia, whose reputation has taken a knock in China for its handling of the incident. "Malaysia wanted to avoid the large amount of payment for the relatives so it announced that it found the debris in Reunion and that the airplane crashed accidentally. We don't believe Malaysia," one comment on the Twitter-like Sina Weibo read.

It is hoped that more detailed examination in the coming days may indicate how the piece detached from the wing and whether it showed traces of an explosion or fire. Scientists have also said barnacles on the flaperon could indicate how long it was in the water, and perhaps where it had been.