Sydney – Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester on Thursday, said investigators claimed burnt airplane debris found off Madagascar has not proved to be evidence of a fire on missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
“What is known is that contrary to speculation there is no evidence the item was exposed to heat or fire.
“In fact, investigators could not find any manufacturing identifiers such as part numbers or serial numbers that provided clues on the items’ origins.
“At this stage it is not possible to determine whether the debris is from MH370 or indeed even a Boeing 777.
“Further work will be undertaken in an attempt to determine the origin of the items, specifically whether they originated from a Boeing 777 aircraft,’’ Chester added.
Recently , the U.S. private investigator Blaine Gibson handed over five pieces of debris to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau that is coordinating the search for the missing aircraft.
Reports say MH370 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board.
Two of the items were blackened fibre glass honeycomb composite debris, which Gibson said showed some signs of melting, as you see when something is exposed to fire.
A summary report on the debris said the dark grey colouration on the outer surfaces of the items was because of a reaction to resin.
“Three small marks on the larger item were indicative of localised heating.
“The age and origin of these marks was not apparent,’’ the statement said.
The debris was found near Sainte Luce on the south-eastern coast of Madagascar.
Dan O’Malley, a spokesman for the Bureau, said four of the other items were still being investigated.
(Edited by Oluleye Abiodun/ Julius Enehikhuere)