MH370 debris: Investigators 'confident' that Boeing 777 wing found - as it happened
Experts believe it could be part of the plane that disappeared over a year ago
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Part of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 may have been found in the Indian Ocean more than a year after the plane disappeared. Here are the latest updates:
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
Air safety investigators have identified the white chunk of debris, found on the island of Reunion in the western Indian Ocean, as a “flaperon” from the trailing edge of a Boeing 777 wing.
If it can be proved to be from MH370, it will be the first confirmation that it crashed into the Indian Ocean after vanishing from radar on 8 March last year with 239 people on board.
The mystery of what happened to the plane from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing has sparked endless conspiracy theories and anguish for families who have struggled to find closure over their loved ones' deaths.
A massive multinational search effort of the southern Indian Ocean, the China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand in the months after the tragedy turned up no trace of the plane and all passengers and crew were eventually declared dead.
The last radar contact placed the aircraft over the Andaman Sea about 230 miles north-west of the Malaysian city of Penang.
The French island of Reunion is about 3,500 miles south-west of Penang and about 2,600 miles away from the current search area.
Malaysian investigators have been sent to verify the wreckage but even if they can prove it came from MH370, Australia's seabed search is likely to continue.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments