A number stamped on a piece of aircraft debris found on La Reunion Island could help quickly identify whether it came Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, Australia's deputy prime minister said.
Officials believe it is "almost certain" that the debris, thought to be a wing part called a flaperon, belongs to a Boeing 777 aircraft but have yet to confirm it is from MH370.
The number was not a serial number but could have been some sort of maintenance number that would help with trying to identify it, Warren Truss told reporters.
"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 more quickly than might otherwise be the case," he said.
Australian deputy PM: "This is a major lead"
Australia's deputy prime minister Warren Truss called the discovery of the debris a "significant development" and a "major lead".
"This is obviously a very significant development," he told a news conference in Sydney.
'A piece of debris could've floated a long, long way in 16 months."
Note of caution from French air expert
A local official on Reunion warned about rushing to conclusions as the investigation is at an early stage.
"People are getting ahead of themselves over this," Eric Chesneau, an officer in the air transport police, told Reuters in response to speculation on social media.
"It is more than likely plane debris, (but) we don't know what exact part it may be."
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