MH370: Mauritius military mobilised to help in debris search; Australia expert to examine flaperon

Debris that has washed onto the Jamaique beach in Saint-Denis is seen on the shoreline of French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, August 3, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Mauritius has mobilised its air and maritime assets to help in the search for possible MH370 debris, while Australia has sent an expert to assist in the examination of a flaperon found on Reunion Island.

"Mauritius has responded to the call made by the Malaysian authorities, through the international press, for neighbouring countries to remain vigilant in locating any further debris," said Mr V. Neethalia, for the Head of Mission in the Mauritius High Commission in Malaysia.

According to Wednesday's statement from the Mauritian Acting Prime Minister's Office, one National Coast Guard ship has been deployed while another is on standby with divers, equipment and a crane. Two fixed-wing aircraft are flying reconnaissance sorties and helicopters are on standby to assist in the search.

Coast Guard posts, ships, fishermen and all commercial aircraft entering Mauritius airspace have been notified to keep a lookout for debris.

Australia has also sent an expert from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to Toulouse, France, to take part in the examination of the B777 flaperon found on Reunion Island.

Investigations to ascertain whether an aircraft flaperon found on Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean, originated from flight MH370 are currently bring carried out by France and Malaysia.

The flaperon had been officially identified as part of a Boeing 777 by the French authorities together with Boeing, the US National Transportation Board and the Malaysian investigation team.

MH370, a Boeing 777 with 239 people on board, disappeared from the radar during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. The aircraft was believed to have ended its journey in the Southern Indian Ocean.

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