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France steps up search efforts for MH370 debris

France is sending extra planes, boats and helicopters to search for debris from missing Malaysian Airlines plane MH370 along the coast of Reunion Island.

It comes after a wing fragment and a plane window were found on the remote Indian Ocean island.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott hailed the discovery of the wing fragment, stating that the "baffling mystery" of the flight's disappearance was closer to being solved, while Malaysia Airlines said it was a "major breakthrough" in resolving the mystery.

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Malaysia Airlines: Identification of debris 'major breakthrough'

Malaysia Airlines have hailed the identification of plane debris, washed ashore on Reunion Island last week and confirmed today as part of missing MH370, as a 'major breakthrough'.

The airline issued a statement online after the Malaysian PM announced that the wing fragment did belong to the missing plane.

Malaysia Airlines would like to sincerely convey our deepest sorrow to the families and friends of the passengers onboard Flight MH370 on the news that the flaperon found on Reunion Island on 29 July was indeed from Flight MH370.

This has been confirmed jointly today by the French Authorities, Bureau d’ Enquetes et d‘ Analyses pour la Securites de I’AviationCivile (BEA), the Malaysian Investigation Team, Technical Representative from PRC and Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) in Toulouse, France and subsequently announced by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Family members of passengers and crew have already been informed and we extend our deepest sympathies to those affected.

This is indeed a major breakthrough for us in resolving the disappearance of MH370. We expect and hope that there would be more objects to be found which would be able to help resolve this mystery.

– Malaysia Airlines
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France steps up search efforts for MH370 debris

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