Australia’s infrastructure and transport minister Darren Chester said in a statement that the Malaysian investigation eam for MH370 had found both pieces of debris were consistent with the panels from a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft.
He said the examination of the debris had been completed.
“The analysis has concluded the debris is almost certainly from MH370.
“That such debris has been found on the east coast of Africa is consistent with the drift modelling performed by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and further affirms our search efforts in the southern Indian Ocean,” he said in the statement, which was uploaded at http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/.
Chester also acknowledged the work undertaken by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Geoscience Australia, Boeing and Australian National University which assisted the Malaysian Investigation Team with their examination of the debris.
He said the search for the ill-fated plane continued and there were 25,000 square kilometres of the underwater search area still to be searched.
“We are focused on completing this task and remain hopeful the aircraft will be found.”
The aircraft with 239 people on board vanished from the radar during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March 2014.
Currently, search efforts are conducted in the southern Indian Ocean where Flight MH370’s final flight path was believed to have ended.
The Malaysian Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai also issued this statement:
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The two pieces of debris discovered in Mozambique were examined at the Geoscience Australia and Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) facilities in Canberra, Australia. Examinations commenced on 21 March 2016, and were completed on 23 March 2016.
The examination and analysis on the debris was carried out by international experts from the Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370, the ATSB, the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCA) and Boeing. The experts were also assisted by specialists from Geoscience Australia and the Australian National University.
The Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team has advised that:
* The dimensions, materials and construction of both parts conform to the specifications of a Boeing 777 aircraft.
* The paint and stencilling on both parts match those used by Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
* As such, both parts are consistent with panels from a MAS Boeing 777 aircraft, and almost certainly are from MH370.
The location where both pieces were discovered in Mozambique are consistent with the drift modelling performed by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
We wish to extend our appreciation to the Mozambique, South African and Australian authorities for their generous support and assistance in this matter.
Malaysia would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr Johnny Begue, Mr Blaine Gibson and Mr Liam Lotter for highlighting their discoveries to the investigation team.
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Meanwhile, Reuters reported Malaysia said today a coastal search needs to be conducted around South Africa and Mozambique for potential debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
A piece of debris was found along the southern coast of South Africa on March 11, while another one was found off the coast of Mozambique this month.
“There is a need for us to search the South African coast to find more debris. Malaysia is sending a team there and we are currently awaiting approval from the South African authorities,” said Liow today.
“The coastal search will be by a Malaysian team and focused around South Africa and Mozambique.”
Liow, however, said the location for underwater search need not be changed.
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