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Debris Found Could be Malaysia Flight MH370; Australia Deputy Prime Minister Gives New Conference Debris; Plane Found Could Be MH370; Officer Indicted in Samuel DuBose Shooting; Donald Trump Talks Health Care. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired July 29, 2015 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:07] ERROL BARNETT, CNN ANCHOR: A plane has been found off an island near Madagascar. Experts think could be MH370.
Plus, an update on the other Malaysian passenger jet shot down over Ukraine. Russia blocks an attempt to prosecute those responsible.
Outrage in Ohio. An unarmed black man killed by a white police officer. Now the officer indicted on murder charges.
Hello, I'm Errol Barnett, with you for the next two hours on CNN. To those of you in the U.S. and around the world, thank you for joining me. This is CNN NEWSROOM.
We begin with what could be a major lead in the disappearance of the Malaysia Airline 370 more than a year ago. A piece of airplane wreckage has been found off the coast of Reunion Island in the Western Indian Ocean near Madagascar. A source tells CNN it appears to be part of a Boeing 777, the same model of MH370. Malaysia is sending a team of investigators now to the island to get their hand on this piece of debris, of course, give it a closer look.
CNN's Kate Bolduan spoke with a man whose wife was on MH370.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
K.S. NARENDRIAN, WIFE ON MH370: Talking about a small part of a large airplane, so the basic question that arises to me at least, so where is the plane? And where are passengers? And what really happened? Why might something have happened? Who are -- whose responsible? So these are questions that spring up. It is a very small piece of, what should I say, a more evolving, emerging scenario here. And to me I think that it raises more questions than it answers at this point in time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: Now, if the debris turns out to be that of MH370, it still is an "if" at this stage, could be the first step in solving one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.
Here is Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is reported to more than eight feet long, three feet wide, and may be the most tantalizing clue in the 17 month mystery. This metallic debris, which appears from a large plane, was discovered off Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. The race is on to see if it is from missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 after one French Air official said the part seen here in local media appears to be a wing flap.
DAVID SOUCIE, CNN SAFETY ANALYST: If it is 777, it is pretty clear it would be part of MH370. The number of 777s that crashed are minuscule at best.
TODD: One French official stresses it is way too soon to say if this is part of the missing plane.
What do authorities need to examine from this piece of wreckage to possibly come up with a match.
LES ABENDS, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Many parts of Boeing airplanes have serial numbers attached to the particular parts riveted on to the particular part. They'll look to see if the serial number traces back to Boeing airplane on any type of airplane. In addition to that, you are going to be able to find out, does this part match up, with a specific diagram of, of parts of the 777.
TODD: Flight 370 disappeared after taking off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014, bound for Beijing. But it never made it, vanishing without a trace, sparking an international search that continues to captivate the world.
Authorities know the plane intentionally veered off course but say they don't know why the Boeing 777 with 239 people on board made a dramatic turn over the sea between Malaysia and Vietnam. And they don't know exactly where the plane's journey ended.
Using satellite data search officials calculated the plane went down in southern Indian Ocean, most recently been combing an area of ocean floor 1,000 miles west of Perth, Australia, about 2,700 miles from where this debris was found. Now investigators and scientists are calculating if pieces of the plane could have drifted that far.
SOUCIE: The odds are against the fact it would have drifted that far. However, it is definitely possible it could have drifted that far considering the time in the water.
TODD (on camera): Experts stressed other planes have crashed in the area this piece of wreckage could be from one of them. Contacted by CNN, Boeing would say it is continuing to provide technical expertise to the search teams.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BARNETT: Now Australian officials say finding the debris so far to the west is possible based on their study of ocean currents. CNN's correspondent, David Molko, has been covering the search for
MH370 since the plane vanished he joins us from Hong Kong.
David, we should reiterate we don't have confirmation yet this is MH370. We do have encouraging information that makes this a very strong possibility. Just tell us what officials are telling you.
[02:05:09] DAVID MOLKO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Errol, encouraging, but I have to say caution is still the word of the day here. A lot of stakeholders in this. They do not want to get this wrong, Errol. There has been so much that has gone into the search. Arguably the most expensive search for the plane in history. One of the greatest mysteries as well of all time. Remember, they have had nothing to go on. Not a single piece of physical evidence. In fact, the whole search area was determined by a number of satellite handshakes. You know, communication between the plane and a satellite. What we are hearing though from Australian officials, specifically the top transport safety investigators, name is Martin Dolan, the discovery of this potential debris is not inconsistent with where they have been looking. The search area some 2,000 miles off the coast of Australia. It is not inconsistent with that, a local oceanographer who has been looking at MH370, studying the southern ocean since the plane went down and well before has done some modeling. I think we have a graphic we can show you of that. Also not inconsistent, the debris over 17 months could have made its way across the Indian Ocean, driven by currents from the east, across to the West.
The question though, Errol, there are a lot of unknowns here. There is cautious optimism on the part of Australia that they're still looking in the right place. This underwater search will continue. Again they do not want to get this wrong.
BARNETT: This information as encouraging as it is coming some 17 months after the plane went missing. What about the families of the many victims, so many of them already complained about the language, the way they have been treated the entire time by officials from the airline, and various nations have you heard any reaction from them so far today?
MOLKO: Errol, we cannot forget the 239 passengers and crew on board the flight and 239 families who at this point more than 500 days after this plane disappeared, are still waiting for answers, are still waiting for any thread of proof of what happened to the missing Malaysia Airlines flight.
Sarah Bajic's partner, Phillip Wood, one of the passengers on the plane. She spoke to Anderson Cooper a short time ago. Here's what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH BAJIC, PARTNER MISSING ON FLIGHT MH370: If ultimately this is a piece of the wing that that little thread of hope I have been holding on to, will have to break. And reality will have to take over. Yeah, up until now I and most of the family members have continued to believe that until we have a body we cannot give up hoping that they will still come back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOLKO: Errol, listening to Sarah there, it is certainly clear why the search team thousands, why the investigators, Australians involved, Malaysia involved, French aviation investigators, BEA, the NTSB out of the United States all looking at this Boeing to see if they can determine, one way or another, if it is from MH370. Lots of question beyond that. Will it help if they trace it back? Figure where the plane went down? Narrow down the search area? Australian officials say unlikely. The search for the passengers and the plane continues today some 2,000 miles off the coast of Australia -- Errol?
BARNETT: Cannot forget with 239 passengers and crew. You have literally hundred of families around the world right now watching this so closely hoping to get some answers.
David Molko will be connecting with us throughout the day from Hong Kong.
David, thank you.
At this moment, we want to turn to Greg Waldron, the Asian managing editor for "Flight Global," joins us live from Singapore to talk about what a very encouraging development.
But I want to find out from you, based on scarce info we have now, how confident are you that this is in fact MH370?
GREG WALDRON, ASIAN MANAGING EDITOR, FLIGHT GLOBAL: Well, it seems consistent with the flaperon of a 777 aircraft. The size is right. This would probably be a part of the aircraft that would float assuming it got loose from the plane when it hit water. It is interesting to find this. There's still so many unanswered questions about the disaster. I've don't think it helps us very much in terms of resolving this mystery.
BARNETT: Just looking at the flaperon by itself, seeing it alone doesn't necessarily give us any answers. It is possibly part of the wing. Buoyant enough to float through the Indian Ocean and get there to Reunion Island. What does that at the very least tell us about the plane debris? If anything?
[02:10:00] WALDRON: Well, with these types of crashes, you are going to see about 90 percent or more of the aircraft actually sink to the, you know the sea floor. There could be other bits and bobs floating around. Maybe pieces of the wing. Other pieces of material. Maybe, you know, life jackets that kind of thing could theoretically be floating around there. Could be. Such a long time since the crash in the ocean so vast. Could be a while before we find anything. The debris field is probably expanded immensely since the crash obviously.
BARNETT: We have Malaysian officials literally racing to get to Reunion Island. Preliminarily does look like a part of a Boeing 777. You confirmed there. If and when it is confirmed as part of MH370, how will that change the search if at all? WALDRON: Not sure how much they can do. It has been again so long
since the crash. And I imagine modeling ocean currents could be extremely difficult. We have seen certain graphics, publications to show this is not inconsistent with the crash off the coast of Western Australia. So -- while this does dismiss some of the more bizarre conspiracy theories, I don't think it gets us that much closer to actually locating the keys to the investigation which are the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder which are absolutely essential for the understanding of the disaster.
BARNETT: All right. Well, piece of debris that is being analyzed as we speak.
Greg Waldron, Asian managing editor for "Flight Global," thank you for joining us today from Singapore. We'll connect with you again.
A look at how this piece of debris could cross the Indian Ocean.
Our meteorologist, Ivan Cabrera, joins us with a breakdown of how that could happen -- Ivan?
IVAN CABRERA, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I think it will be easier to talk about how the debris got to the island, rather than tracing it back to where it originated from. That's what we want. That will be the tricky part. Show you the ocean currents and how complicated they are in a second. What we are talking about. This is Australia. This is the search area. Continues. Fly you in closer. Be able to see we are talking about 4,000 kilometers away from the search area. There is Reunion Island. There is where the debris was found. The gires are driven by global circulation party in the atmospheres here. The air pushing the water. In the north Atlantic we have the north Atlantic and North Pacific gire, counter clockwise circulation, because of the way the coreolis force works anything deflected to the right. Southern hemisphere the other way around. Things are deflected to the left here. When we talk about the Indian Ocean here on the northern flank of that, we see things moving from east to west. So, specifically, certainly we can, trace the event from the crash site and the debris and it is going to be moving to the West. Remember talking to a colleague when this first occur. If we don't find the debris field. This will eventually land on some kind of island or shore, and that is exactly what happened here.
As far as tracing it back, they're going to be doing complicated, that is ongoing, Errol. Doing some drifting modeling to trace back where the debris would have come from, which would lead us to the crash site, which is still the big mystery. So whether this debris is the one that is going to got us back there remains to be seen. At least we are beginning to move in the right direction. As you mention, now we can put away all the other theories that were floating out there.
BARNETT: All right. Ivan Cabrera there, showing us how some of the gires play into this.
Thank you very much. See you again soon.
Ever since MH370 vanished a year ago, loved ones of those on board have been waiting desperately for answers. There have been a number of theories as to what happened to the plane.
And our Sara Sidner has more.
(BEGIN AUDIO FEED)
UNIDENTIFIED PILOT: Good night. Malaysian 370.
(END AUDIO FEED)
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Good night Malaysian 370," the last word anyone would hear from the ill-fated flight causing unimaginable grief and unleashing theories from the technical to the sinister. Among them, the pilot crashed the plane on purpose. Investigators looked into whether suicide could have been a reason. Ultimately, the International Independent Investigation Committee said it found no indications that would cast suspicion on him or the crew. Terrorism. Did someone commandeer or hijack the plane to crash it? Experts are divided on this too. But hijackers, usually have clear demand. That never materialized. And no terrorist group claimed responsibility, which led investigators to believe those options are not viable. The plane landed somewhere as the months ticked by and no pieces of the plane were discovered. Some speculated it was possible the plane had landed. But no communications from the people on board or hijacked demands made that seem less pos but. Mechanical failure, a theory that a catastrophic mechanical failure brought the air craft down is still being considered, rapid decompression, the cabin loses pressure and passengers and crew become unconscious. Plane on autopilot flies until it runs out of fuel and crashes. Without evidence, they are all just theories leaving grieving families in limbo wondering what happened to those they lost.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[02:15:48] BARNETT: Now in addition to those developments about plane debris in the Western Indian Ocean, we are also following news including the air tragedy in eastern Ukraine. Why Malaysian officials are dismayed by Russia's latest moves. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:19:58]BARNETT: Welcome back. Let's get you caught up on the breaking news this hour.
A team of Malaysian investigators are heading to the remote Reunion Island in the Western Indian Ocean where a piece of airplane debris found could be from Malaysian flight 370. A source tells CNN the debris appears to be part of the wing from a Boeing 777. The jetliner disappeared in March of last year on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Now, get you to the United Nations where, earlier, the focus was the downing of another Malaysia Airliner. Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution to establish an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight 17. Russia indicated earlier the resolution was premature and too political. That prompted Malaysia's transport minister to say this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIOW TIONG LAI, MALAYSIA TRANSPORT MINISTER: We are deeply disappointed at a failure to adopt and draft a resolution for MH17 despite our persistent effort to address council members concern and to breach our differences.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine just over a year ago. All 298 people on bored that flight were killed.
In the U.S., a police officer is expected in court in just a few hours to face a murder charge in the shooting death of an unarmed black man. People rallied in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wednesday for 43-year-old Samuel DuBose, shot and killed during a traffic stop. The shooting was caught on the officer's body camera.
We will show it to you here. It is disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFC. RAY TENSING, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINATTI CAMPUS POLICE: Well, as far as figuring out if you can have a license, take your seat belt off.
SAMUEL DUBOSE, SHOT BY OFFICER: I didn't do nothing.
TENSING: Go ahead and take your seat belt off. Stop! Stop!
Shots fired! Shots fired!
(SHOUTING)
UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER: Did you get him?
TENSING: I don't know!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[Gunshot]
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: As you see, it all seemed to escalate so quickly. The officer Ray Tensing turned himself in Wednesday and has been fired from his job.
The prosecutor says Tensing purposely killed DuBose.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH DETER, HAMILTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR: I have been doing this for over 30 years. This is the most asinine act I have ever seen a police officer make. Totally unwarranted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: Now members of DuBose's family, of course, are grieving but say, at the very least, they're thankful there was video of the shooting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERINA ALLEN, SISTER OF SAMUEL DUBOSE: If it were not for that video camera, Sam would be no different than all the other incidents because the second officer was ready to corroborate every lie that the first officer said in the report. So I just want to be very clear we feel for a lot of families out there. I wasn't even really big on video cameras. Every day I am going to be marching for video cameras. Because my brother was being prosecuted for frying trying to kill a police officer, he dragged him, he assaulted him, he gave him alcohol, when there was never an open container of alcohol, he was everything violent because he had children and weed charges. That man shot my brother dead. This would be the same if it were not for that video camera.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BARNETT: Terina Allen there, DuBose's sister.
Tensing had said he feared for his life and thought DuBose was going to run him over.
To other stories we are following for you, U.S. Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, expected in Scotland for a visit to his latest acquisition in the U.K., The course, now called Trump Turnbury, is hosting women's British Open that begins there today, the second type the championship has been held there.
Some of Trump's critics accused him of flip-flopping on health care, a big issue in this election. His views have changed over the years to a more conservative stance.
In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash he explained where he stands now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Health care, in this book, you, at the time, said you were conservative on most issues, but liberal on health care. You advocated a single payer system, sort of Canadian-style universal health care. What is your position now?
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP GROUP: At the time -- and I will say this, we were having not the difficulty with Obamacare. Obamacare is number one, maybe least importantly, costing the country a fortune. Also a very bad form -- it's very bad. People are losing their plans. They're losing their doctors. Doctors, you know one of the biggest problems nobody talks about, doctors are all leaving. They're leaving the profession.
BASH: Do you think the answer is single-payer system? TRUMP: The answer we have to knock down the borders and let people
compete. We do. Where it may be different than other people, I want to take care of everybody you. Have a group of people that aren't able to take care of themselves.
(CROSSTALK)
BASH: How do you do that?
TRUMP: We have to work out a deal with hospitals where they can get some help. When they're sick, when they have no money and they're sick. If a Republican, conservative -- and I'm a very conservative person -- if a conservative doesn't like the fact that I have to want to take care of some body, if they're really sick and they have no money, I want to help the person.
[02:25:25] BASH: How do you do that though?
TRUMP: Work out a very, very smart deal with hospitals around the country.
BASH: So you are in the Oval Office, you are saying, Obamacare --
TRUMP: Got to go.
BASH: It's got to go.
TRUMP: Repeal and replace with something terrific.
BASH: And the terrific is?
TRUMP: Terrific will be plans done by private companies. I have to be able to compete. I want to be able to compete and go to, company in California, company in Iowa, company in New Hampshire. I will get a good price. The only way the government should really be involved is they have to make sure the companies are financially strong. So if they have catastrophic events or if they make a miscalulation, they have plenty of money. Other than that they're private. You'll have great plans. You'll have great competition.
At the other end, where people have no money, I want to help those people. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I want to help those people. So they also -- now it will not be like a good plan, like the finest plan that somebody that has made some money or has a good living can do, but you got to be able to help the people. Can you imagine you have no money and you get sick? Like somebody else, and you have no place to go? And you know what, if I lose votes over that, or if I don't get a nomination over that, that's just fine with me.
BASH: Because it would be government assistance, basically?
TRUMP: You have to help people.
(END VIDEOTAPE) BARNETT: And at this moment, Donald Trump is leading in Republican -- in national polls among Republicans. He'll likely be pressed to explain his views on this issue and others at the first Republican primary debate in Ohio next week.
Now we'll much more on our breaking news for you on our break news. Coming up, airplane debris found in the Western Indian Ocean. Investigators are looking into whether it could be the first piece found from Malaysia Airlines flight 370.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:30:41] ERROL BARNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers here in the U.S. And those tuned in from around the world. I'm Errol Barnett. Let's update you on the top stories right now.
Airplane debris found in the Western Indian Ocean could be from Malaysia Airlines flight 370. A source tells CNN the debris appears to be part of the wing from a Boeing 777, the same type of plane as MH370.
India executed a man for plotting the 1993 bombings in Mumbai that killed 257 people. The man was hanged inside a jail in western India earlier today. He was considered a key conspirator behind 12 bomb blasts that ripped through hotels, markets, and buildings, March 12, 1993. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in India's history.
The Afghan government says the reclusive leader of the Taliban is dead. Intelligence officials say Mullah Omar died in a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2013. His death had long been rumored those the Taliban claimed he was in charge of the terror group earlier this year.
Now at this moment, we are getting a feed from Australia where Warren Truss, the deputy prime minister, is updating the media on developments on what could be a piece of MH370. Let's have a listen.
WARREN TRUSS, AUSTRALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: -- the revelation that the parts may come from missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370, operated by a Boeing 777. And the photographs suggest parts that are not inconsistent with a Boeing 777. But there are other possibilities. People require examination by experts to prove established positively that the parts are indeed from a 777. Another step to establish that parts came from 777 that operated MH370. Work is being undertaken by various agencies to try and advance that investigation. There is a number on the part, PB670. Not a serial number or registration number. But it is possible that it could be a maintenance number. And that might help an early investigation. I'm informed it is a realistic possibility that wreckage from -- from MH370, if the entered the Indian Ocean in the place where a current search operations are being undertaken, could have reached the Reunion Islands in the 16 months since the incident. Indeed, areas around Madagascar, not very far from the Reunion Island were identified as a likely landfall if indeed there were parts of the aircraft left floating. Now this kind of work is obviously going to take some time although
the number may help to identify the aircraft parts assuming that's what they are. Much, much, much more quickly than what other, otherwise would be the case. On a day like today when we receive information about aircraft parts being discovered there is particular stress on the families of the 293 people who lost their lives in this disaster, we think especially of them.
At an Australian level, we have sought to make contact with all the families and have in most cases to keep them informed of the latest development and we will continue to ensure that their interests are foremost in the way in which we deal with the issue.
[02:35:00] I should point out that while Australia has a particular responsibility in relation to the search for MH370 on the assumption that we are searching in the Australian sea and rescue area, the Reunion Island are French territory. So the responsibility fall primarily investigating this debris rests with the French and of course the Malaysians who are the flag carriers of the aircraft. Nonetheless, Australia has again offered our assistance in this investigation. We have asked the CSRO and Institute of Marine Research to have a look at the photographs and assess whether the barnacles that are evident in those photographs are consistent with something that was floating in the oceans for 16 months or nor and to give us any other advice that might assist in the examination.
The information that we have is consistent with the search that's being undertaken at the present time. It supports the -- it supports the satellite data and the identification of the area in the southern Indian Ocean as the most likely place where the aircraft could have entered the waters. Of course, a piece of debris could have floated a very, very long way in 16 months. And it is a very, very long way from the Reunion Island to, to the place where we think the aircraft entered the water.
Now, this is obviously a very significant development. It's the first real evidence that there is a possibility that a part of the aircraft may have been found. It's too early to make the judgment. But clearly we are treating this as a major lead and seeking to get assurance about what is being found and whether it is indeed linked to the disappearance of MH370.
Are there any questions.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
TRUSS: Well. we have taken our own initiative in relation to the foe graph photographs to make them available to the relative scientific institutions. But the relevance of the information rests with the French and how the evidence is handled and how that can be linked to the work that the Malaysians are doing as the flag carrier of aircraft.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
TRUSS: Obviously, this is something -- this is important news for them. They have waited a very, very long time for any kind of news. Even this is not yet at ace stage where anything positive can be said to them. And so they have an anxious wait again. And I feel very much for them. They have been through a lot. Not knowing, not having the opportunity for closure is certainly an enormous burden for the families. And we respect very much the difficult situations they're going through at the present time.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
TRUSS: We believe on availability of all right information that is being done that the search area is the right one. We have refined the boundaries of the search area on a number of occasions as ongoing work, that is continuing in relation to the satellite data that we have to more precisely locate the -- the resting place of the aircraft. And that work will continue. In the winter, we have been -- we haven't been able to main taint same level of intensity in the search. Because of the weather conditions are very poor in -- on that part of the planet. But when the weather improves, they'll be a major effort in the same area that we have been working on in the past. South of the southern part of the identified area and that will remain our target area. If there has been a discovery of any wreckage associated with the aircraft. It is so far away. You can not reverse its path. And with any degree of reliability know that, that, where the aircraft entered the water just too far away, too long ago. And we do know that they is, it is, it is credible. That, that wreckage from the, the search area could have reached the Reunion Island by now. And so we can't rule it out on those grounds.
[02:40:00] UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
TRUSS: Well, it will put some of the theories to bed. But there are a lot of very wild theories that have been around including it landed in Russia and it, or it's been sighted in places where -- way beyond the range of, of its fuel, and et cetera. So it will put some of those theories to bed. But it won't positively prove that is in any other location other than I guess the Indian Ocean.
OK?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE)
TRUSS: All right. OK.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
TRUSS: Well, the approval of the coal miners is for the government, the commonwealth has undertaken environmental assessment, which is triggered under the EPBC Act.
BARNETT: Listening to the Australian deputy prime minister, Warren Truss, update the media on what he calls "credible development at Reunion Island," a piece of debris could potentially be MH370. The deputy minister there confirming the first significant lead in the search for MH370, but also reiterating that, as this just broke within the past 24 hours, officials in Australia are still sharing information with French officials at Reunion Island and coordination with officials as well. It will take some time to get confirmation.
Our David Molko, listening into the press conference, joins us now, live from Hong Kong.
One detail that stood out to me, David. He said there are a number of markings and numbers on the piece of debris. He actually read out PB- 670, one of the markings, saying a possible maintenance number. Wondering to you what stood out in what we just heard?
DAVID MOLKO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is interesting, Errol. We are getting a lot of detail we weren't hearing before. We had a source saying that they believed that this piece was from a -- 777. We heard from a reporter on the ground, that there was a marking on it. A number look you said. What we are hearing from the deputy prime minister in Australia -- the face of Australia's effort in this. It is not a serial number. Not a registration number. Could be a maintenance number. What this says is investigators and teams from Australia, from the U.S., from France, from Boeing and other places, are looking at this extremely closely. They're looking at every detail possible, trying to make a determination. You can imagine this really says this is active, happening now. They want to get this right. Errol, one thing he mentioned too, Australian experts looking at the photographs, looking at the barnacles that are attached to this piece of debris, again to see if they can determine how long it may have been in the water or where, where it may have been. Errol, the word of the day though continues to be caution. The deputy prime minister there, mentioning the families on board, 239 families, saying not knowing what happened is still an enormous burden -- Errol?
BARNETT: Yeah, so many different pieces of evidence that they'll be looking into. That also stood out to me, the fact that they can look at the barnacles and, you know take a look at, if it is likely to have been on that piece of debris for the past 17 months you. But you do get the sense, even with all of this caution that we are layering on all this information. You get the sense that we are going to get an answer to whether or not this is MH370 very soon.
David Molko, live for us in Hong Kong.
We watching the latest developments come in on this from around the world.
Stay with us here on CNN. We're back with more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[02:46:58] TRUSS: This is obviously a very significant development. It's the first real evidence that there is a possibility that a part of the aircraft may have been found. It's too early to make that judgment. But clearly we are treating this as a -- as a major lead and seeking to get assurance about what is being found and whether it is indeed linked to the disappearance of MH370.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BARNETT: Australia's deputy prime minister, Warren Truss, there moments ago addressing the media as it relates to the -- to the development that a piece of debris on Reunion Island has been discovered and could potentially be that of MH370.
One other note the deputy prime minister made although Australia is helping in every way it can in the search in the Indian Ocean. With this development, French and Malaysian officials will take the lead in confirming this was MH370 and of course, taking the next step.
Our Asia Pacific editor, Andrew Stevens, arrived in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. He joins us on the line to give us that reaction, that side's reaction to the story.
You have the MH370 and MH17 disasters put a strain, not just emotional, but financial. Wondering how officials there are reacting to news of this possible link?
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN ASIA PACIFIC EDITOR (voice-over): Well, they are being very, very cautious about jumping to conclusions, as you would expect, Errol. The department of aviation has actually put out a statement saying that -- they have sent a team of their own investigators and industry experts to tie in with the French investigators there. And they do say that until there is tangible and irrefutable evidence, the flaperon, what they're calling it, the flaperon, helps the planes to fly, until there is tangible, and irrefutable that the flaperon belongs to the aircraft it is premature to speculate at the time. And to say that we don't raise false hopes for loved ones of the victims of MH370. A team is on the way to review the Malaysian team, on this, as you say a very traumatic time for the families and the entire country. Given not one but two tragedies, air tragedies in the place of six months in 2014. That really, really just rocked this country.
BARNETT: So, understandable why officials want to be cautious. If we think back a year ago to the initial search there were developments of fin pings on the ocean floor, that were released that gave families false hope. However, the deputy prime minister called this lead credible and the first significant lead in the search does add to a bit of optimism. I understand the caution. But do you get a sense that, that officials there are encouraged at all by this lead.
[02:50:10] STEVENS: I think everybody is encouraged, if that is the right word, Errol. I think moving forward with this, which has so far been a fruitless search. It is a very big step indeed. But for something like this, which, which has that serial number on it, which may refer to the list. That is all very, very key evidence. The family it is interesting. I have been speaking to two, three families here. They're torn. They say we want to get closure. Know what happened to our loved ones. We don't face up to the fact that they are never coming home. These families have been living in hope, since March 2014, that a miracle will happen. If it is proven, if this is a part of MH370, there will not be a miracle -- Errol?
BARNETT: Andrew Stevens is in Kuala Lumpur for us. Our correspondents all over the globe at the key locations in the breaking story, the Australian prime minister calling discovery of debris at Reunion Island "a credible and significant lead."
We'll be back with more of the breaking story on CNN after this short break.
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[02:55:27] TRUSS: I'm informed it is a realistic possibility that wreckage from MH370, it entered the Indian Ocean at a place where the current search operations are being undertaken could have reached the Reunion Islands in the 16 months since the incident. Indeed, areas around Madagascar, not very far from the Reunion Island, were identified as a likely landfall if they were indeed parts of the aircraft left floating.
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BARNETT: Australia's deputy prime minister making statements moments ago as we follow breaking news here.
CNN has learned that aircraft maker, Boeing, believes the piece of wreckage found in the Western Indian Ocean is consistent with a 777, the same model as the Malaysia Airliner MH370 that vanished a year ago on a flight to Beijing. A team of investigators heading to Reunion Island for a firsthand look.
You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Errol Barnett. I've got another hour to go. My colleague, Zain Asher, joins me next. Stay with us.
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