THE discovery of more debris thought to be from MH370 is providing families with a glimmer of hope the missing plane will be found before the official search ends in July.
Today marks two years since the Malaysia Airlines’ flight vanished during a routine service from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 people on board.
Despite an intensive underwater search of almost 90,000 square kilometres of seabed in the southern Indian Ocean, the Boeing 777’s fuselage is yet to be found.
Up until last week, the only debris discovered was a flaperon that washed on to Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean last July.
An item thought to be a horizontal stabiliser from a plane’s tail was found on a sandbar in Mozambique at the start of this month, and yesterday the beach cleaner who found the flaperon, came across another piece of suspected aircraft debris.
Both items are with local authorities and arrangements are being made in partnership with Malaysia to bring them to either Australia or France.
NEW DEBRIS FOUND ON REUNION ISLAND
BLOGGER FINDS AIRCRAFT PART LINKED TO MH370
Clues ... Debris found in Mozambique thought to be from MH370. Pic: Supplied.Source:Supplied
EIGHT QUESTIONS MALAYSIA AIRLINES NEED TO ANSWER
MH370 FAMILIES WANT INDIAN OCEAN SEARCH TO CONTINUE
Jeanette Maguire, whose sister and brother-in-law Cathy and Bob Lawton were on the doomed flight, said she felt excited when she learned of the new discoveries but was being realistic.
“As (Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner) Martin Dolan stated “we haven’t found the haystack yet, let alone the needle in the haystack”,” said Ms Maguire.
In the dark ... Sister and daughter of MH370 victim Cathy Lawton, Jeanette Maguire and Amanda Lawton struggle with the lack of answers about the plane’s fate. Picture: Ric Frearson / News Corp AustraliaSource:News Corp Australia
Her feelings were shared by Jayden Burrows, son of Rodney and Mary Burrows who were travelling with the Lawtons.
“It’s hard because we have had lots of little discoveries but it still hasn’t been found,” said Mr Burrows.
“This recent discovery (in Mozambique) gave us some confidence that we are searching in the right area.”
Unbearable wait ... Jayden Burrows is hopeful of getting some answers about his parents’ fate soon. Pic: Glenn Barnes/News Corp AustraliaSource:News Corp Australia
He said the wait to find the plane and learn the truth about his parents’ fate was “almost unbearable”.
Today’s anniversary posed a particular challenge.
“It’s another anniversary we have to tackle with no closure,” said Ms Maguire.
“It will still be very, very difficult. Two years on and we’ve got nothing concrete to say where they are.”
Just over 30,000 square kilometres of seabed is left to be searched in the southern Indian Ocean MH370 is thought to have crashed, after running out of fuel.
Discovery ... A flaperon found on Reunion Island last July was confirmed as from MH370. Pic: Raymond Wae Tion/EPASource:AAP
Despite widespread criticism of all aspects of the search, Commissioner Dolan remained resolute they were looking in the right place.
“The fact we haven’t found it so far, increases the likelihood we’re going to find it in the remaining area,” said Commissioner Dolan.
“For the families who are still suffering from the loss of loved ones, I reiterate to them we and all the search team are totally committed to the search, and remain confident we will find it.”
Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester said finding the aircraft would give answers to the world, in particular the families of missing loved ones, about what happened.
“We owe it to their memory and to the loved ones who mourn them, to honour the undertaking to complete the search of the area experts have determined as most likely to contain the missing aircraft,” said Mr Chester.
A YEAR OF FRUSTRATION
March 8, 2015: on the first anniversary of the plane’s disappearance, Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport reveals 221kg of lithium ion batteries in the cargo hold weren’t properly checked by security and a senior air traffic controller was asleep for four hours after the plane disappeared from radar screens.
April 16: tripartite meeting of ministers from Australia, Malaysia and China agrees to extend search area from 60,000 square kilometres to 120,000 square kilometres.
May 14, 2015: man made objects found in the search zone by Fugro Equator turn out to be an uncharted shipwreck rather than an aircraft debris field
June 4, 2015: Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirms search will not be extended further if nothing is found by the time entire 120,000 square kilometre priority zone is scoured.
June 18, 2015: high-tech vessel Go Phoenix quits search in the Southern Indian Ocean on Malaysia’s orders.
July 26, 2015: Reunion Island council worker Johnny Begue discovers plane debris during a beach clean-up, taken to France for examination and analysis.
September 3, 2015: flaperon found on Reunion Island confirmed as coming from MH370.
November 16, 2015: memorial plaque and tree dedicated to MH370 passengers Bob and Cathy Lawton, unveiled at Robelle Domain, Springfield Lakes.
November 22, 2015: China agrees to contribute a vessel and some cash to the MH370 search as the bill climbs to $180 million.
December 2, 2015: Australian Transport Safety Bureau releases a new Bayesian Method report that reveals MH370 was most likely a ghost flight when it ran out of fuel and crashed into the Southern Indian Ocean.
January 12, 2016: second shipwreck found in southern Indian Ocean by MH370 search vessel Fugro Equator.
February 2, 2016: Brisbane City Council agrees to rename Camelot Park at Middle Park, Rod and Mary Burrows Park, in honour of the couple who were on board MH370.
February 24, 2016: Melbourne’s Jennifer Chong files a lawsuit in the Victorian Supreme Court seeking compensation from Malaysia Airlines for the death of her husband Chong Ling Tan on board MH370.
March 3, 2016: possible plane debris found on sandbar in Mozambique by US blogger and self-appointed MH370 investigator Blaine Gibson.
March 6, 2016: vigil held by MH370 next of kin in Kuala Lumpur calls for search to continue if nothing is found by the time entire 120,000 square kilometre zone is scoured.
March 7, 2016: more possible plane debris found on Reunion Island by council worker Johnny Begue.
March 8, 2016: two year anniversary of MH370’s disappearance with 239 people on board.
Additional reporting by Brittany Vonow
