Metal Debris Found In Thailand Most Probably Not From MH370 But From A Japanese Rocket, Experts Say

A fisherman found an enormous piece of curved metal off the coast of Thailand's Nakhon Si Thammarat, CNN reported on Sunday. Following the discovery of the large metal debris, there were speculations that it could be portion of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished on March 2014 while carrying 239 individuals on board.

CNN reported that officials from Thailand and Malaysia would conduct thorough investigations to verify if the debris was really from the missing Malaysia Airlines. The Deputy Director General of Thailand told CNN that Thailand's Civil Aviation Department would send off air accident investigators to the place where the metal debris was found.

Subsequently Malaysia's transport minister Liow Tiong Lai urged the media to consider carefully the victims' families while reporting things that may relay a different message and cause worry.

On Monday, The Star News reported that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries circulated photos with serial numbers indicating that the debris might be from one of the rockets used to send satellites into outer space.

"Although [we're not absolutely certain] we think it is likely that it's part of either an H-IIA or H-IIB rocket," Mitsubishi Heavy Industries spokesperson Sayo Suwashita said.

The initial finding was reached "after comprehensively examining information such as the shape of the debris and the numbers seen on it."

According to United States independent defense and aerospace expert Nathan J. Hunt, the metal's construction and port placements seemed to have matched the Japanese H-II rocket series.

"The species of barnacle could give a hint where this drifted from and how long it has been in the water from the distribution of barnacles on the debris," VOA news quoted Hunt on Monday.

CNN described the metal panel as white, curved and about a man's size. It was covered with mussels, barnacles and algae with visible hinges and panel numbers.