Confirmed: Flaperon Found On Réunion Island From MH370

After weeks of speculation and thorough review, authorities have confirmed that the flaperon recently found on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean is a part of MH370. The part's serial number, which has been the focus of intense scrutiny, has been confirmed to have originated on the doomed Malaysian airliner.

Back in early August, Prime Minister Najib Razak stated at a press conference:

"It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you, an international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion is indeed from MH370."

However, despite Prime Minister Razak's announcement, many still weren't completely convinced of the part's authenticity due to apparent inconsistencies with the part's external serial number, or the lack thereof of an external serial number to be more exact.

Today's confirmation suggests that those concerns are now satisfied, and that the part has been conclusively linked to the missing airliner.

According to CNN, the office of French Prosecutor Francois Molins said Thursday that "a series of numbers found inside the plane flaperon matches with records, held by a Spanish company that manufactured portions of the component, linking the debris to MH370."

Photo credit: Flaperon wreckage – Lucas Marie/AP, Prime Minister Najib Razak – Vincent Thian/AP

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