Malaysia's prime minister says experts in France have determined that a barnacle-encrusted airplane wing fragment came from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared more than a year ago with 239 people aboard.
Prime Minister Najib Razak said at a news conference on Wednesday that "an international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed MH370." He added, "We hope this confirmation however tragic and painful will at least bring certainty to the family of 239 people on board."
The 6-foot wing fragment washed up on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion and was sent to France, where experts began examining it on Wednesday. Investigators will analyze the metal with high-powered microscopes to probe what caused the plane to go down.
Oceanographers say the type of barnacles found on the wreckage may indicate where the plane crashed and metal stress may tell investigators how fast it was going in the final moments.
Experts say even with a positive ID on the wreckage - it will be difficult to trace - where the rest of the plane may be. The Boeing 777 disappeared after veering far off its planned northerly course from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Beijing.
A French prosecutor did not go as far as the Malaysian Prime Minister with a confirmation, but said there is a very strong indication the part belonged to the missing jetliner.
A suitcase was also found and will be tested for DNA.
(The Associated Press also contributed to this report.)
