MH370 investigation team receives aircraft 'debris' from Madagascar
Bernama
July 20, 2016 14:13 MYT
July 20, 2016 14:13 MYT
This undated handout received on April 19, 2016 from Boeing and the ATSB shows the stabilizer panel (left) found in Mozambique with the words 'No Step' painted on it believed to be from MH370. - AFP Photo/ATSB
Several pieces of debris found in Madagascar believed to be parts from an aircraft were handed over to the Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370, yesterday.
Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in a statement today said the items handed over by an American, Blaine Gibson included a stabilizer panel with 'No Step' stencil, engine cowling bearing Rolls-Royce logo, and a fiberglass skin aluminium honeycomb cored panel.
"The debris will be sent for examination and analysis to determine if they originated from flight MH370," said DCA.
Flight MH370, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur enroute to Beijing on March 8, 2014.
The jetliner has yet to be found despite massive search operations in the southern Indian Ocean where the aircraft was believed to have ended its flight after diverting from its original route.
Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370, headed by the investigator-in-chief, was established to investigate the disappearance of the jetliner.
The team comprises 19 Malaysians and seven accredited representatives of seven safety authorities from seven countries.
DCA in the statement stressed, "it is important to note that at this juncture, it has not been confirmed whether any of the debris came from MH370.
"It is therefore crucial for verification of these pieces to be conducted by the experts," it said.
DCA said the Royal Malaysian Police at the same time had taken possession of personal effects collected by Gibson from the same location for examination purposes.
"DCA wishes to express our gratitude to Mr Blaine Gibson for his efforts in highlighting the discoveries and cooperation in this matter.
"We wish to also urge anyone who discovered any debris or personal effects that might be related to MH370 to hand them over to relevant authorities in their respective countries," it said.
DCA said it would provide an update "as and when" new information becomes available.