AUTHORITIES in Western Australia are investigating whether apparent aircraft wreckage washed up at a beach in the south of the state may be from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating a piece of debris picked up in Augusta, about 320km south of Perth, this afternoon.
An ATSB spokesman has confirmed that the photographs of the debris were being passed on to Malaysian authorities and Boeing for analysis.
The debris was picked up and handed in at Busselton police station.
Submarines join search for MH370
Police officers photographed it and sent the images to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, who forwarded them to ATSB.
ATSB chief commissioner Martin Dolan also played down the find.
“It’s sufficiently interesting for us to take a look at the photographs,” Mr Dolan told CNN.
“The more we look at it, the less excited we get.”
He said the debris appeared to be sheet metal with rivets.
The debris is still at Busselton police station, but will be handed over to AMSA tonight.
Police said items of interest had been previously reported after washing up on a WA beach and had turned out to be unrelated to MH370, so it was important not to jump to conclusions.
A statement issued from the federal government’s Joint Agency Coordination Centre confirmed the finding.
The agency, led by Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, is co-ordinating the Australian government’s support for the search for MH370.
“Western Australia Police have attended a report of material washed ashore 10 kilometres east of Augusta and have secured the material,” the JACC’s statement said.
“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is examining the photographs of the material to determine whether further physical analysis is required and if there is any relevance to the search of missing flight MH370.
“The ATSB has also provided the photographs to the Malaysian investigation team.
“No further information is available at this time.”
source: theaustralian.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 