CANBERRA, Australia — Analysis of a genuine Boeing 777 wing flap has reaffirmed experts’ opinion that a missing Malaysian airliner most likely crashed north of an abandoned search area in the Indian Ocean, officials said Friday. Australian government oceanographers had obtained a wing flap of the same model as the original and studied how that part drifted in the ocean, the Australian Transport safety Bureau said in a statement. The new analysis confirmed findings released in December that the airliner had likely crashed north of the searched area. Malaysia, China and Australia have agreed that the search will remain suspended unless new evidence emerges that would pinpoint the plane’s exact location. France is conducting its own investigation and has not handed over the Reunion Island flaperon to the wider investigation.

Source: National Post April 21, 2017 14:46 UTC