MH370 Update: Malaysia confirms - Reunion debris belongs to the plane

The Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak has confirmed that the piece of a wing washed up on on Reunion Island is part of MH370's wreckage.

Today early morning he said in a televised address:

"Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370."

The debris, found a week ago, was sent for tests in Toulouse.

Though no evidence had been found, MH370 is long thought to have crashed into the southern part of the Indian Ocean.

The piece of the wing is the first direct indication that the Boeing crashed in the ocean and is about to put an end to a chapter in one of the biggest mysteries in the history of aviation.

Still prosecutors in France have stopped short of stating the flaperon belongs to MH370, saying only that it is highly likely.

Serge Mackowiak, who is Paris Prosecutor, said no serial number or unique markings had been discovered, it was only confirmed the flaperon came from a Boeing 777 "due to its technical characteristics, mentioning the color, the structure of the joints."

Furthermore, documentation of the actual aircraft used on flight MH370 was provided by Malaysia Airlines.

"On this basis, it was possible for a connection to be made between the object examined by the experts and the flaperon of the Boeing 777 of MH370," added Mackowiak.

More analysis are being carried out today, but no data for results has been announced so far.

The French police will also be examining a fragment of luggage discovered in Reunion.

“Investigators will try to do it as soon as possible in order to provide total and reliable information to the family of victims, who are on our minds at the moment," said Mackowiak.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the vanished flight reacted with grief and frustration.

Zhang Meiling, whose daughter and son-in-law were on MH370 described the announcement of Minister Najib Razak as a nonsense.

Jacquita Gonzales, who is a wife of crew member Patrick Gomes, told reporters:

"Now that they have confirmed it as MH370, I know my husband is no longer of this world but they just can't leave it with this one flaperon.

"We urge them to continue searching until they find the plane and bring it back."

In a statement the Malaysia Airlines described the announcement as a "major breakthrough" while hoping for further evidence to be found to "help resolve this mystery".