TheCable

After 515 days of speculation and inconclusive investigation, MH370, the Malaysian aircraft that went missing in 2014, has been confirmed to have ended in the southern Indian ocean.

Najib Razak, Malaysian prime minister, made the official confirmation on Wednesday.

On March 8, 2014, flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared, with little or no explanation about the strange incident.

A few weeks later, 26 nations came together in what has been dubbed the biggest aviation search in human history, to unravel the incident, with no certain results.

On July 29, 2015, French authorities claimed that a part of an aircraft wing had been found on Reunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean.

After numerous tests, international experts confirmed on Wednesday that the aircraft wing was from the missing MH370, putting an end to all doubts surrounding the aircraft.

Razak announced the development to the south Asian country, saying the country would honour lives lost onboard.

“Today, 515 days since the plane disappeared, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that an international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370,” he said.

“The burden and uncertainty faced by the families during this time has been unspeakable. It is my hope that this confirmation, however tragic and painful, will at least bring certainty to the families and loved ones of the 239 people onboard MH370. They have our deepest sympathy and prayers.

“I would like to assure all those affected by this tragedy that the government of Malaysia is committed to do everything within our means to find out the truth of what happened.

“MH370’s disappearance marked us as a nation. We mourn with you, as a nation, and I promise you this: Malaysia will always remember and honour those who were lost onboard MH370.”