Investigators due to examine suspected Flight 370 piece

PanARMENIAN.Net - If a wing fragment found in the western Indian Ocean turns out to be part of missing Flight 370, experts say, there are probably other pieces of the aircraft that floated off rather than sinking to the bottom of the ocean, the Associated Press reports.

John Page, an aircraft design expert at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said the discovery of the fragment last week on Reunion Island leads him to conclude the missing Boeing 777 broke up, most likely when it hit the water nearly 17 months ago.

He said that while the main body of the plane is likely to have sunk, he thinks other small, lightweight parts attached to the wings and tail may have floated free and could still be afloat — pieces like the flaps, elevators, ailerons and rudders.

"I'm certain other bits floated," he said. "But whether they've washed up anywhere is another question. The chances of hitting an island are pretty low."

He said there's plenty of trash in the ocean, and even if somebody sailing past spotted something in the water, he or she may have no clue it was from the plane.

The discovery of the fragment, which has been taken to France, could be a significant development in one of aviation's greatest mysteries. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished in March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard.

Air safety investigators have identified the component as a flaperon from a 777. French and Malaysian investigators will begin examining the piece Wednesday, Aug 5, to make sure that assessment is correct. They will try to confirm the flaperon is from Flight 370 and gather clues about what happened to the plane. Flight 370 is the only missing 777.

Authorities believe the plane most likely crashed offshore from Australia in the east Indian Ocean. Oceanographers say it's feasible the wing fragment floated thousands of kilometers (miles) in a counterclockwise direction across the ocean before washing ashore.

Malaysian authorities said this week they'll seek help from territories near Reunion Island to search for more debris.