Experts say pieces of missing flight may still be afloat; fragment remains under study

If a wing fragment found in the western Indian Ocean turns out to be part of missing Flight MH370, experts say, there are probably other pieces of the aircraft that floated off rather than sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

John Page, an aircraft design expert at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said the discovery of the fragment last week on Reunion Island led him to conclude the missing Boeing 777 broke up, most likely when it hit the water nearly 17 months ago.

He said that while the main body of the plane is likely to have sunk, he thinks other small, lightweight parts attached to the wings and tail may have floated free and could still be afloat.