Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed Thursday that a Boeing 777 wing segment discovered in the Indian Ocean island of Reunion is from the missing Flight MH370, the first real breakthrough in the search for the plane that disappeared 17 months ago.

“The international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370,” Mr. Najib said in a televised statement in Kuala Lumpur.

The wing washed up on Reunion, near Madagascar, a week ago and was flown to Paris for examination and identification. Reunion is a French territory.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared in March of last year enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board.

It remains a mystery as to why the plane never reached its destination.

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