France confirms wing part was from jetliner

French investigators have formally identified a washed-up piece of airplane debris found in July on a remote island in the Indian Ocean as part of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the Boeing 777 that disappeared more than a year ago with 239 people aboard.

Australian investigators said the news was useful but would not alter the search for the plane.

Based on satellite analysis of the plane's likely trajectory, searchers are scouring the seabed off Australia's west coast, so far covering about 60,000 square km without success.