Debris found on coast likely from a Boeing 777

A plane part that washed up on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean is believed to come from a Boeing 777 but it has not yet been established whether it came from missing Flight MH370 of Malaysian Airlines, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The part, which according to aviation experts may be a moving wing surface known as a "flaperon" situated close to the fuselage, usually contains markings or part numbers that should allow it to be traced to an individual aircaft, the source said.

France's BEA crash investigation agency said earlier it was examining information about the part and that it was too early to say whether it came from a Boeing 777. Earlier, Boeing also declined comment.

There have been four serious accidents involving Boeing 777s. Only MH370 is believed to have crashed south of the equator, though an Australian-led search has so far concentrated on an area on the opposite side of the Indian Ocean.