Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is missing

[sn26567]

A piece of wreckage that washed up on an island in the Indian Ocean is from a Boeing 777, the same type of aircraft as MH370, which vanished last year, Malaysian authorities said this Sunday.

French, U.S. and Malaysian authorities identified the flaperon as from that particular type of Boeing, the latter's transportation minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

If the serial number on the flaperon confirms that it is from Flight 370, then the laboratory can use sophisticated tools to try to glean more information about the causes of the crash, such as whether its shape corresponds more to a mid-air explosion or a crash into the ocean.

A suitcase that was also found on the same beach at St André on the island of La Réunion has travelled to Orly on the same plane as the flaperon and will be analysed in a police unit outside Paris that specialises in DNA tests.

A second piece of suspected plane debris has washed ashore on La Reunion. The object, believed to be the door of an aircraft, was discovered just south of the city of St Denis. It is said to have writing on it and possibly some illustration.

After CNN, BBC, Reuters

[Passenger]

A second piece of suspected plane debris has washed ashore on La Reunion. The object, believed to be the door of an aircraft, was discovered just south of the city of St Denis. It is said to have writing on it and possibly some illustration.
After CNN, BBC, Reuters

That "aircraft door" seems to be just a domestic ladder.

[Passenger]

Mauritius' Coastal Guard has joined the search for debris:

very brief report:

[Treeper]

Interesting piece on someone who claims to have found - and later burnt - a blue seat, and 2 suitcases.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... s-ago.html

[Treeper]

It is now officially confirmed that the flaperon is effectively a part of a Boeing 777. Investigation is ongoing if it was actually part of 9M-MRO:

"On Aug 2nd 2015 Malaysia's Transport Ministry announced that the aircraft part found on Jul 29th 2015 at Reunion has been officially identified as a flaperon of a Boeing 777, further examination is under way to determine whether the flaperon belonged to 9M-MRO, the Boeing 777-200 that went missing on flight MH-370. The part has been taken to Toulouse and has been identified as a flaperon by experts of French Authorities, experts from Boeing, the NTSB, Malaysia Airlines and Malaysia's Accident Investigation Team. Malaysia has been reaching out of Aviation Authorities in the region to watch out in case more debris is being washed ashore which would permit more substantial analysis and perhaps more clues what happened to missing MH-370."

Source: The Aviation Herald via http://www.avherald.com

[Passenger]

Indeed, that’s the official statement - "official" because Malaysia leads the investigation. But let’s not trust the Malaysian government too much because their statement contradicts: if the flaperon is indeed from a Boeing 777, as they firmly say it is, it must be from Malaysia’s MH-370. Because Malaysia says that isn’t sure yet, they admit that it’s a wild guess that the flaperon is from a 777. A wild guess from the country that leads the investigation? Doesn’t look good. Fact is that the “official” confirmation will be given by the lab near Toulouse – probably Wednesday or Thursday.

Furthermore, I don't think that the relatives of the victims agree with Malaysia’s official statement that the mystery is now solved. News.yahoo, referring to AFP, writes: Abdul Aziz Kapriwi, Malaysia's deputy transport minister, said on Friday: “…This could be the convincing evidence that MH370 went down in the Indian Ocean… Investigators are moving close to solving the mystery of MH370…" The mystery isn’t solved at all because one flaperon has been found. All we know with this new evidence is that MH370 has crashed somewhere in a very very wide ocean. That is not "close to solving the mystery": that's just "in line with previous suspicions".

- - -

Le Figaro also doesn't share Malaysia's optimism. "Tout le monde s'emballe, mais il faut attendre l'avis des experts et des constructeurs", tempère Gérard Feldzer, ancien pilote de ligne et consultant aéronautique et transport. "Il faut se méfier de la Malaisie, ils ont déjà montré sur cette affaire que la communication n'était pas leur fort", explique l'expert aéronautique au Figaro.

[Treeper]

Confirmed: Debris found on La Réunion is from 9M-MRO.

"On 8 March 2014, flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared. The days, weeks and months that followed have been a period of torment for the families of those on board.
The plane’s disappearance was without precedent. At every stage, we followed the tiny amount of evidence that existed. But, despite the efforts of 26 nations and the largest search in aviation history, from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, the plane could not be located.
Neither could investigations by the world’s leading aviation experts answer why MH370 veered off course and went dark. While the plane’s disappearance remained a mystery, we have shared the anguish of those who could find no comfort.
Last week, on 29th July, we were informed by the French authorities that part of an aircraft wing had been found on Reunion, the French island in the Indian Ocean.
Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370.
We now have physical evidence that, as I announced on 24th March last year, flight MH370 tragically ended in the southern Indian Ocean.
This is a remote, inhospitable and dangerous area, and on behalf of Malaysia I would like to thank the many nations, organisations and individuals who have participated in the search.
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.
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 onboard MH370."

Source: The Aviation Herald

[Flanker2]

With this uncertainty lifted, now they could perhaps analyse what kind of impact would cause the damage seen on the aileron and determine whether it was a ditching or a nose-down dive.

What I wonder is why the aerial/satellite search has not found this debris before it washed up on Reunion.
Makes me wonder about the thoroughness of the search.

[Conti764]

Too small I guess...

[Treeper]

With this uncertainty lifted, now they could perhaps analyse what kind of impact would cause the damage seen on the aileron and determine whether it was a ditching or a nose-down dive.

What I wonder is why the aerial/satellite search has not found this debris before it washed up on Reunion.
Makes me wonder about the thoroughness of the search.

Debris was spotted on the 20th, 22nd and 26th of March, due south of where MH370 would've ended.
These were in a radius of about 500 - 700km from the points of Dr. Ulich, Captain Hardy, and the Southern most point of the actual search locations.
If I remember correctly, a search was conducted to these floating parts, but when the planes arrived at those coordinates, there was no sign anymore... 700km/15 days= 46,6kms/day = 2km/hour. Which seems reasonable.

[Flanker2]

How hard did Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 hit the water after it ran out of fuel and plummeted from cruising altitude? Not as hard as you might think, accident experts say.
The relatively intact condition of the wing piece that washed up on Reunion island off Africa suggests the Boeing Co. 777 may have hit the water more gently than in a head-on crash, according to former U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigators Greg Feith and Jim Wildey, and Hans Weber, president of aviation consultant Tecop International Inc.
“That piece maintained its integrity. It’s not crushed,” Feith, a former senior investigator with the NTSB, said by phone from Denver. “You can deduce it was either a low-energy crash or a low-energy intentional ditching.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... d-into-sea


What if there were survivors?
Are there any islands that they could have reached before running out of resources/water/food?
Or was it an intended rendez-vous with a ship, for the purpose of mass-kidnapping itself for such purpose as organ trafficking? People have done crazier things for much less.
Organ prices on the black market:
http://gizmodo.com/5904129/heres-how-mu ... ack-market

[Passenger]

Some non-fiction views:

http://www.duncansteel.com/archives/category/mh370

[Passenger]

Breaking news from last night:
"...Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that a Malaysian team at the French territory of Reunion Island has collected other plane debris including a window and some aluminium foil. "There are many items collected," he said..."
http://www.smh.com.au/world/mh370-new-d ... itgjm.html

Contradicted by Paris just now:
"...The Paris prosecutor's office says there is no new airplane debris from the French island of Reunion, contradicting reports from the Malaysian government. A spokeswoman in the prosecutor's office, who was not authorized to be quoted by name, denied that any new material from an airplane had been turned over to French authorities. Malaysia's transport minister had said hours earlier that new debris, including window material and metal, had been collected. Other French officials with ties to the investigation Paris and Reunion also said they were unaware of any new debris..."
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wir ... 0-32913964

Once again Malaysia proofs that it's the most unreliable factor in the whole MH370 search operation.

[Passenger]

Breaking news from last night:
"...Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that a Malaysian team at the French territory of Reunion Island has collected other plane debris including a window and some aluminium foil. "There are many items collected," he said..."
http://www.smh.com.au/world/mh370-new-d ... itgjm.html

Contradicted by Paris just now:
"...The Paris prosecutor's office says there is no new airplane debris from the French island of Reunion, contradicting reports from the Malaysian government. A spokeswoman in the prosecutor's office, who was not authorized to be quoted by name, denied that any new material from an airplane had been turned over to French authorities. Malaysia's transport minister had said hours earlier that new debris, including window material and metal, had been collected. Other French officials with ties to the investigation Paris and Reunion also said they were unaware of any new debris..."
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wir ... 0-32913964

Once again Malaysia proofs that it's the most unreliable factor in the whole MH370 search operation.

A press release by the French governement Thursday evening (21h44) only states "we have very strong presumptions". And not "we have conformation that the flaperon is from MH370" - like the Malaysian government said a few days ago.

http://www.defense.gouv.fr/salle-de-pre ... ementaires

"...Le procureur de la République adjoint de Paris a annoncé hier qu’il y a des très fortes présomptions que la pièce, retrouvée le 29 juillet 2015 sur le littoral de la commune de Saint André sur l’île de La Réunion, provienne du vol MH370 de la Malaysia Airlines disparu en mars 2014 avec 239 personnes à bord (dont 4 victimes françaises). Des analyses complémentaires de cette pièce sont actuellement en cours.

A la demande du Président de la République et du Premier ministre, il a été décidé de déployer des moyens aériens et maritimes supplémentaires afin de détecter la présence éventuelle de nouveaux débris au large de la Réunion.

Un aéronef de type Casa survolera la zone dès demain matin. Le préfet de la Réunion coordonnera ces opérations qui feront intervenir les forces armées de la zone Sud de l’Océan Indien (FAZSOI). Des opérations de gendarmerie sont également menées : patrouilles à pied, missions d’hélicoptères de recherches et de brigade nautique.

Toute découverte sera immédiatement rendue disponible pour les besoins de l’enquête.

La France prendra toute sa part dans les démarches internationales en veillant à la mise à disposition des moyens nécessaires afin de contribuer à faire la lumière sur ce drame.

Le Gouvernement français se joint à la peine des familles, pour qui cette découverte a réveillé l’espoir d’éclaircir les circonstances de la disparition du vol MH370..."

[Passenger]

Réunion is investigating this new debris that has been found this morning:

https://twitter.com/francetvinfo/status ... 1729141761

[Passenger]

Réunion is investigating this new debris that has been found this morning:

https://twitter.com/francetvinfo/status ... 1729141761

It's believed to be part of the rudder from this catamaran:

http://www.sunsail.co.uk/Sunsail_update_17_June_2015

[sn26567]

Investigators fail to link Reunion aircraft debris to MH370

Investigators who have been examining the flaperon of a plane found on Reunion have been unable to find any evidence linking it to MH370.

Experts from the Directorate General of Armaments have finished surveying the flaperon found on Reunion Island. Nothing certifies that it belongs to MH370!

In Balma, near Toulouse, technical analysis of the wing flaperon that is believed to belong to the Malaysia Airlines Boeing has ended. Engineers from Toulouse have brought forth their conclusions to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office, in charge of the judicial inquiry. At the moment, none of their observations have been linked. “The team, tasked by French officials with examining the flaperon, concluded the first phase of its inspection work”, announced the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) located in Sydney.

Circumustantial evidence:

“French authorities, in consultation with Malaysia, will give updates on progress when the time is right”, added the ATSB. The judicial authorities are in fact remaining silent and refusing to comment on anything. According to our sources, the experts found no irrefutable technical elements that would allow to us to certify 100% that this piece belongs to flight MH370. “The experts’ conclusions are the only technical part of the criminal investigation, which is still going on”, says an insider of the investigation. As of now, the only certitude is that the flaperon that was tranfered from the Reunion Island to Toulouse on August 5 corresponds to a moving part of the wing of a Boeing 777. If the deputy prosecutor of the Republic of Paris has stated that there was a “very strong supposition” that the piece belonged to the plane of flight MH370, which disappeared 18 months ago, that statement is based on circumstantial evidence.

First, the piece belongs to the aircraft model corresponding to that of Malaysia Airlines, a Boeing 777. In addition, no other aircraft of this type except that of the Malaysian company were reported missing.

Also, the trajectory of the wing piece that ran aground on a beach in Reunion matches the sea currents that link the search area of the wreckage of the plane to the French overseas department. Finally, the shells found attached to the flaperon belong to a species endemic to the southern Indian Ocean where the unit is believed to have disappeared.

According to a Toulouse aeronautics expert who requested anonymity, the element of the wing would not have floated for several months at the water’s surface but would have drifted underwater a few meters deep.

According to Jean-Paul Troadec, former chairman of the Bureau of Investigation and Analysis (BEA), the state of flaperon, even if it is not intact, indicates that there was no violent impact with the ocean surface. “If this had been the case with the MH370, one would expect much smaller debris than a flaperon,” said the expert.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/disappeara ... 70/5471122

[Passenger]

The German oceanic research centre "Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung" from Kiel (Germany) will hold a press conference on 1th September 2015. They have calculated that MH370 has crashed in another region as generally accepted.

http://www.geomar.de

[Passenger]

The German oceanic research centre "Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung" from Kiel (Germany) will hold a press conference on 1th September 2015. They have calculated that MH370 has crashed in another region as generally accepted.

http://www.geomar.de

The above press release (in English) is online: "where is MH370?"
http://www.geomar.de/en/news/article/wo-ist-mh370/

[sn26567]

The Reunion Island wing debris ("flaperon") is 'certainly' from the MH370 missing flight, said the French prosecutors today.

The Malaysian government had previously said it believed that the flaperon belonged to MH370.

Prosecutors in Paris, who had until now been more cautious on the provenance of the debris, said a technician from Airbus Defence and Space in Spain, which had made the part for Boeing, had formally identified one of three numbers found on the flaperon as being from MH370.