Relatives Cautious To Believe Debris Is MH370

Relatives of some of the 239 people aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have reacted with caution to news that a piece of debris that has recently washed up may be from the missing airliner.

The piece washed ashore on Reunion Island, and authorities are investigating whether it is from the Boeing 777.

Zhang Qian, a 28-year-old, spoke to Sky News on the phone. Her husband was on the plane when it disappeared in March 2014.

She said: "We heard the news last night, we were all very upset. For all those times, we deeply believed the plane has gone missing but our loved ones are still alive.

"Even now, I still don't believe that debris belongs to MH370, and the conclusion that the plane crashed into the ocean.

"I am just worried the official will give this conclusion in a rush for some reason – I can't accept it."

Jacquita Gonzales, whose partner Patrick Gomes was an inflight supervisor on the plane, said: "At the end of the day we all want the closure but we still cling onto hope.

"I still have my beliefs and if it's not MH370, we will still hope for the best.

"We also want our loved ones to come back home where they belong."

Another relative, Wang Guanyi, is waiting for official confirmation - as other discoveries of debris in the past have failed to bring loved ones the closure they need.

"There were talks about this new information last night - but many of us don't quite believe it yet," he told Sky News.

"For a long time, I've prepared myself for the worst, although I still hold a glimpse of hope."

And Sara Weeks, sister of MH370 passenger Paul Weeks of New Zealand, said she was happy the debris was in French hands.

"They've (Malaysia) just been incompetent, so at least it's in the hands of someone else and we may get some answers a little bit quicker," she told Fairfax New Zealand.

Jiang Hui, a leading figure among MH370 relatives in China, posted a statement on behalf of Chinese relatives, saying the group would "pay attention" to developments and hope for confirmation but "we don’t want to hear some officials making a guarantee of 99% only, but rather demanding for a 100% confirmation".

He added: "Wherever the debris is, what we care more (about) is where our loved ones are. So far - did the plane land halfway? Were all the passengers onboard? All of these haven't been proved.

"Whether this debris belongs to MH370, it shouldn't affect the promises of not stopping and not giving up searching of MH370 made by all sides."

Speaking on his own behalf - his mother was on the flight - Mr Jiang said: “I still believe the passengers are alive. It’s possible the plane had landed, and the passengers didn’t get on board again.

"No one has given me any evidence. So even if it’s true, I won’t easily believe our loved ones have died. I will continue looking for them.

"It must be a conspiracy, there must be conspiracies surrounding the missing plane. I don’t even believe that the plane ended in the south Indian Ocean.

"The basic data for search and rescue could not be guaranteed, I don’t believe any valid results can come out of it.

"I think about my mother all the time. I didn’t look after my family before, didn’t realise the importance of my family, the warmth, the love, I didn’t cherish them.

"Now, for me, earning money is secondary, money is secondary. To take good care of my family, my child, my wife, that’s my number one priority."

Of the 239 people on board Flight MH370, which had been heading to Beijing, 153 were Chinese.

Responding to the debris found, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: "We are seeking further information to confirm the situation with relevant countries.

"China is going to pay close attention to the developments, and properly conduct follow-up works."