Wreck hunter talks exclusively about likely MH370 debris find
06 January, 2019
2 min read
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Some of the new MH370 debris that was found on Madagascar last year has been confirmed by Malaysian authorities as likely from the lost Boeing 777.
The five pieces of MH370 debris were handed over on November 30, by wreck hunter Blaine Gibson and some relatives of those lost in the MH370 disappearance, to Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
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In a Malaysian report from the MH370 Safety Investigation Team, it said that most parts were from an aircraft but the floor panel was from a Boeing 777 and “most likely MH370.”
in November, Mr Gibson told AirlineRatings.com that “the debris proves two things - that MH370 crashed violently and it almost certainly is in the Southern Indian Ocean.”
[caption id="attachment_37453" align="alignnone" width="480"] Wreck hunter Blaine Gibson with a piece of floor panel from the Boeing 777[/caption]
The next of kin said at the time they want assurances from Mr. Loke that the Malaysian Government would continue efforts to find a satisfactory resolution to the mystery of MH370, which disappeared on March 8, 2014, with 239 aboard.
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The piece key piece of MH370 debris found at Sandravinany, south Madagascar, was identified using a fragment of a label still attached as part of a floor panel from a Boeing 777.
[caption id="attachment_37454" align="alignnone" width="643"] Floor panel showing a small corner of a label with number VPPS61[/caption]
“Don Thompson, one of the Independent Group investigating MH370’s disappearance, found the actual identification label for the Boeing 777,” Mr. Gibson said.
An important clue was the piece contained a portion of a placard with the identifying characters WPPS61.
Floor panel showing a small corner of a label with number VPPS61According to another IG member, Victor Iannello, Mr. Thompson was able to determine that the full placard number was BAC27WPPS61 and he found a similar placard on the floorboard of wreckage from MH17.
[caption id="attachment_37455" align="alignnone" width="1136"] Full Boeing 777 floor panel label[/caption]
This analysis has been confirmed by the Malaysian authorities.
Mr Gibson said that “locals tell me there are many more pieces of debris washed up but it needs to Malaysia to offer rewards.”
Mr. Gibson has been giving locals small rewards.
While the two extensive searches have not turned up the main body of wreckage, Mr Gibson believes that the main body of wreckage probably lies just outside the search area.
READ Crash investigators analysis of MH370 find
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