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Debris in Mozambique Is Thought to Come From Malaysia Airlines Flight Debris in Mozambique Is Thought to Come From Malaysia Airlines Flight
(about 1 hour later)
Debris that washed up on the coast of Mozambique could be part of the wreckage from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which vanished almost exactly two years ago, NBC and CNN reported on Wednesday. Debris that washed up on the coast of Mozambique could be part of the wreckage from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which vanished almost exactly two years ago, Malaysian officials said on Wednesday.
If the debris, which was discovered over the weekend, did come from the plane, a Boeing 777 that was en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, it could contribute to the theory that the plane went down in the southern Indian Ocean. If the debris, which was discovered over the weekend, came from the plane — a Boeing 777 that was en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — it would add to the theory that the plane went down in the southern Indian Ocean, and potentially contribute to the longstanding search for the wreckage.
Airplane debris was found in July on Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean that is a French territory. French investigators concluded “with certitude” that the debris — a piece of an aircraft wing known as a flaperon — came from Flight 370. No other Boeing 777 is known to be missing.Airplane debris was found in July on Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean that is a French territory. French investigators concluded “with certitude” that the debris — a piece of an aircraft wing known as a flaperon — came from Flight 370. No other Boeing 777 is known to be missing.
NBC, citing unidentified sources, said the newly discovered debris had washed up on a sandbank on the Mozambique Channel, the body of water that separates the southeast African nation from Madagascar. Réunion is to the east of the island nation of Madagascar, and it is roughly 1,500 miles from the coast of Mozambique. NBC, citing unidentified sources, reported on Wednesday that the newly discovered debris had washed up over the weekend on a sandbank of the Mozambique Channel, the body of water that separates the southeast African nation from Madagascar. Réunion is to the east of the island nation of Madagascar, and it is roughly 1,500 miles from the coast of Mozambique.
The fate of the plane, which vanished on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board, has been an enduring mystery.
NBC reported that investigators in Malaysia, Australia and the United States were analyzing photographs of the object, which had the words “NO STEP” on it and could be from the horizontal stabilizer, a winglike mechanism attached to the plane’s tail.NBC reported that investigators in Malaysia, Australia and the United States were analyzing photographs of the object, which had the words “NO STEP” on it and could be from the horizontal stabilizer, a winglike mechanism attached to the plane’s tail.
NBC attributed the discovery of the object to an American who has been blogging about the search for the flight.
CNN reported that the debris would be taken to Malaysia for further examination. It cited an unidentified American official as saying that the wreckage was from the skin of the plane’s horizontal stabilizer.CNN reported that the debris would be taken to Malaysia for further examination. It cited an unidentified American official as saying that the wreckage was from the skin of the plane’s horizontal stabilizer.
Efforts to reach the governments of Mozambique and Australia, which has been leading search operations in the southern Indian Ocean, were not immediately successful on Wednesday. Efforts to reach a spokesman for Malaysia’s prime minister were also unsuccessful. The Associated Press reported that photos appeared to “show the fixed leading edge of the right-hand tail section of a Boeing 777,” citing an unnamed American official.
On Wednesday evening, Malaysia’s transport minister, Liow Tiong Lai, said on Twitter that there was a “high possibility debris found in Mozambique belongs to a B777,” referring to a Boeing-777.
But Mr. Liow added, “It is yet to be confirmed & verified.” He said that Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation was working with its Australian counterparts to retrieve the debris. “I urged everyone to avoid undue speculation as we are not able to conclude that the debris belongs to #mh370 at this time,” he wrote.
The fate of the plane, which vanished on March 8, 2014, with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board, has been an enduring mystery. The plane diverted from its intended course less than an hour after takeoff, according to satellite signals.
The pilots stopped communicating with air traffic controllers as the plane altered its course toward Vietnam, instead traveling west across the Malay Peninsula before turning south over the Indian Ocean.
Investigators, who have said it was highly unlikely that the plane reached the ocean’s surface in a controlled fashion, suspect it then ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean. In January 2015, after months of criticism over its handling of the investigation, the Malaysian government declared the plane’s disappearance an accident and said the 239 people on board should be presumed dead. A majority of the passengers were Chinese, and the handling of the investigation has stirred considerable frustration and outrage there.
Australia, which has been leading search operations in the southern Indian Ocean, did not comment on Wednesday about the newly discovered debris.
In Mozambique, officials said they were still looking into the matter. The country’s director of civil aviation, João Abreu, could not immediately be reached for comment. Local officials indicated that the debris appeared to have washed up on a sandbank north of the coastal city of Maxixe.
Officials at Malaysia Airlines did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday evening.