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Do not fill this in! ===Flaperon=== [[File:Boeing 777 Wing Flaperon (Part No. 657 BB).jpg|thumb|Boeing 777 flaperon]] [[File:Reunion debris compared to MH370 flight paths and underwater search area.png|thumb|Location of flaperon discovery relative to Flight 370's flight path and the main search area]] [[File:Indian Ocean Gyre.png|thumb|Currents within the Indian Ocean]] The first item of debris to be positively identified as originating from Flight 370 was the right [[flaperon]] (a [[trailing edge]] control surface).<ref name="guardian20150730">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/30/mh370-search-what-is-the-debris-found-in-la-reunion |title=MH370 search: what is the 'flaperon' debris found in Réunion? |last1=Safi |first1=Michael |last2=Holmes |first2=Oliver |date=30 July 2015 |work=The Guardian |url-access=registration |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202110031/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/30/mh370-search-what-is-the-debris-found-in-la-reunion |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Boeing "777 Aircraft Maintenance Manual" [D633W101-RBA], Chapter 6 Dimensions and Areas, Section 06-44 Wings (Major zones 500 and 600), p. 221, 3 May 2008</ref><ref>ATSB final report (AE-2014-054) dated 3 October 2017, p. 103. "The flaperon was the first item of debris positively confirmed to have come from MH370."</ref> It was discovered in late July 2015 on a beach in [[Saint-André, Réunion|Saint-André]], [[Réunion]], an island in the western Indian Ocean, about {{convert|4000|km|nmi mi|abbr=on}} west of the underwater search area.<ref name="BBC: Réunion debris 30-07-2015"/> The item was transported from Réunion (an [[Overseas departments and territories of France|overseas department of France]]) to [[Toulouse]], where it was examined by France's civil aviation accident investigation agency, the [[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] (BEA), and a French defence ministry laboratory.<ref name="BBC: Réunion debris 30-07-2015"/> Malaysia sent its own investigators to both Réunion and Toulouse.<ref name="BBC: Réunion debris 30-07-2015"/><ref>{{cite news |title=MH370 search: Plane debris arrives in France |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33739851 |access-date=2 August 2015 |work=BBC News |date=1 August 2015 |archive-date=5 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005062237/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33739851 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 3 September 2015, French officials announced that serial numbers found on internal components of the flaperon linked it "with certainty" to Flight 370.<ref name="francetvinfo 3 Sept 2015">{{cite news|language=fr|date=3 September 2015|url=http://www.francetvinfo.fr/live/message/55e/862/7a6/674/763/493/562/000.html|publisher=Francetvinfo|title=Le débris d'avion retrouvé fin juillet à La Réunion appartient "avec certitude" au vol MH370, annonce le parquet de Paris|access-date=3 September 2015|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111100458/https://www.francetvinfo.fr/live/message/55e/862/7a6/674/763/493/562/000.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These serial numbers were retrieved using a [[borescope]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hanna|first1=Jason|last2=Vandoorne|first2=Saskya|date=3 September 2015|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/03/europe/mh370-investigation/index.html|publisher=CNN|title='Certainty' that Reunion debris from MH370, French official says|access-date=3 September 2015|archive-date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903171235/http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/03/europe/mh370-investigation/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Nicola|title=Analysis Confirms Plane Debris Came From Malaysia Airlines Flight 370|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-flight-370-flaperon-reunion.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 September 2015|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005000828/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-flight-370-flaperon-reunion.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BBC33794012>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33794012 |title=MH370: Reunion debris is from missing plane, says Najib |work=[[BBC News]] |date=6 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828142244/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33794012 |archive-date=28 August 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/mh370/11779673/MH370-Malaysian-government-confirms-debris-is-from-a-Boeing-777.html |title=MH370: Malaysian government confirms debris is from a Boeing 777 |last=Shahrestani |first=Vin |date=3 August 2015 |work=The Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806010230/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/mh370/11779673/MH370-Malaysian-government-confirms-debris-is-from-a-Boeing-777.html |archive-date=6 August 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After the discovery, French police conducted a search of the waters around Réunion for additional debris,<ref name="BBC: Réunion debris 30-07-2015">{{cite news|title=MH370 search: Réunion debris to be tested in France|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33714780|access-date=30 July 2015|work=BBC News|date=30 July 2015|archive-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924014642/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33714780|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Adamson |first1=Thomas |last2=Ng |first2=Eileen |title=Malaysia Seeks Help in Finding More Possible MH370 Debris |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/malaysia-seeks-expand-search-mh370-debris-32832669 |access-date=8 August 2015 |work=ABC News |agency=AP |date=2 August 2015 |quote=Malaysia's transport ministry confirmed Sunday that the flaperon that was found has been identified as being from a 777, saying it had been verified by French authorities together with Boeing, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and a Malaysian team. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804213635/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/malaysia-seeks-expand-search-mh370-debris-32832669 |archive-date=4 August 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Fr24: Reunion search 7 Aug 2015">{{cite news|title=France launches search for more MH370 debris on Réunion|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20150807-france-steps-reunion-island-search-flight-mh370-wreckage|access-date=8 August 2015|work=France24|date=7 August 2015|quote=The prefect of the French overseas department, Dominique Sorain, said Friday that a helicopter and water vehicles would scour an area 120 kilometres (75 miles) by 40 kilometres (25 miles) around the east coast of the island, where the wing part, known as a flaperon, was found. Bad weather forced the suspension of operations on Friday evening with the search set to begin again on Sunday morning.|archive-date=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808035211/http://www.france24.com/en/20150807-france-steps-reunion-island-search-flight-mh370-wreckage|url-status=live}}</ref> and found a damaged suitcase that was initially linked to Flight 370,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Aubusson |first1=Kate |date=31 July 2015 |title=MH370: Suitcase reportedly found on {{sic|nolink=y|Reunion}} Island, close to where plane debris recovered |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/mh370-suitcase-reportedly-found-on-reunion-island-close-to-where-plane-debris-recovered-20150730-gio73i.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801161006/http://www.smh.com.au/world/mh370-suitcase-reportedly-found-on-reunion-island-close-to-where-plane-debris-recovered-20150730-gio73i.html |archive-date=1 August 2015 |access-date=31 July 2015 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> but officials have since doubted this connection.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-31 |title=MH370 search live: 'Convincing evidence' plane was downed in Indian Ocean - Malaysian official<!-- "offical" in original --> |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/11772187/MH370-debris-found-live.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209061107/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/11772187/MH370-debris-found-live.html |archive-date=2024-02-09 |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> The location of the discovery was consistent with models of debris dispersal 16 months after an origin in the search area then in progress off the west coast of Australia.<ref name="Operational search update 5 August 2015">{{cite web|title=MH370 Operational Search Update|url=http://jacc.gov.au/families/operational_reports/opsearch-update-20150805.aspx|publisher=Joint Agency Coordination Centre|access-date=8 August 2015|date=5 August 2015|archive-date=11 March 2018|archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/gov/20180311050517/http://jacc.gov.au/families/operational_reports/opsearch-update-20150805.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC: Réunion debris 30-07-2015"/><ref name="ATSB/CSIRO Drift model 4 Aug 2015">{{cite web|title=MH370: Aircraft Debris and Drift Modelling|url=http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2015/mh370-drift-analysis.aspx|publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau/The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation|access-date=8 August 2015|date=4 August 2015|archive-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805235912/http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2015/mh370-drift-analysis.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/malaysia-airlines-370-searchers-treating-debris-major-lead/story?id=32775033|title=Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Searchers Treating Debris as Major Lead|website=[[ABC News]]|access-date=30 July 2015|archive-date=31 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731063608/https://abcnews.go.com/International/malaysia-airlines-370-searchers-treating-debris-major-lead/story?id=32775033|url-status=live}}</ref> A Chinese water bottle and an Indonesian cleaning product were also found in the same area.<ref>{{cite news|title='Chinese water bottle, Indonesian canister' wash up on Reunion Island after possible MH370 wing flap find|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/1845475/chinese-water-bottle-indonesian-canister-wash-reunion|agency=AFP, Reuters|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=31 July 2015|date=31 July 2015|archive-date=31 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731154312/http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/1845475/chinese-water-bottle-indonesian-canister-wash-reunion|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=MH370 Search: New Items Wash Ashore On {{sic|nolink=y|Reunion}}|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1528192/mh370-search-new-items-wash-ashore-on-reunion|access-date=31 July 2015|work=Sky News|date=31 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802232244/https://news.sky.com/story/1528192/mh370-search-new-items-wash-ashore-on-reunion |archive-date=2 August 2015}}</ref> In August 2015, France carried out an aerial search for possible marine debris around the island, covering an area of {{convert|120 by 40|km|mi|abbr=on}} along the east coast of Réunion.<ref name="Fr24: Reunion search 7 Aug 2015"/> Foot patrols were also planned to search for debris along the beaches.<ref name="CNN: Reunion search 6 Aug 2015">{{cite news|last1=Mullen|first1=Jethro|last2=Shoichet|first2=Catherine|last3=Fantz|first3=Ashley|title=MH370: More plane debris has washed up on {{sic|nolink=y|Reunion}}, Malaysia says|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/06/world/mh370-investigation/|access-date=8 August 2015|work=CNN|date=6 August 2015|archive-date=6 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806221204/http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/06/world/mh370-investigation/|url-status=live}}</ref> Malaysia asked authorities in neighbouring states to be on the alert for marine debris that might have come from an aircraft.<ref name="ABC: Malaysia seeks help in debris search">{{cite news|last1=Ng |first1=Eileen |last2=Adamson |first2=Thomas |title=Malaysia Seeks Help in Finding More Possible MH370 Debris |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/malaysia-seeks-expand-search-mh370-debris-32832669 |access-date=8 August 2015 |work=ABC News (US) |agency=AP |date=2 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804213635/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/malaysia-seeks-expand-search-mh370-debris-32832669 |archive-date=4 August 2015 }}</ref> On 14 August, it was announced that no debris that could be traced to Flight 370 had been found at sea off Réunion, but that some items had been found on land.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=MH370: Search on {{sic|nolink=y|Reunion}} island to end Monday |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/08/14/MH370-Reunion-to-end-search/ |newspaper=The Star |location=Malaysia |date=14 August 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=14 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814200815/http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/08/14/MH370-Reunion-to-end-search/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Air and sea searches for debris ended on 17 August.<ref>{{cite news |title=France ends search for MH370 debris off Réunion coast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/flight-mh370-france-search-reunion-missing |newspaper=The Guardian |agency=AFP |date=17 August 2015 |access-date=17 August 2015 |url-access=registration |archive-date=18 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818012816/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/flight-mh370-france-search-reunion-missing |url-status=live }}</ref> The flaperon was covered in ''[[Lepas anatifera]]'' barnacles, which grow in certain patterns and only while underwater. Researchers have analyzed the barnacles on the flaperon in an attempt to deduce its path to Réunion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/mh370-search-debris-barnacles.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us |title=The Sea Creatures That Opened a New Mystery About MH370 |first1=Jeff |last1=Wise |work=[[Intelligencer (website)|Intelligencer]] |date=2024-03-07 |accessdate=2024-03-10 |archive-date=10 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310233520/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/mh370-search-debris-barnacles.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us |url-status=live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). 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