MH370: New report indicates missing plane was in uncontrolled descent when it crashed.

It is unlikely the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was in a controlled decent when it crashed into the Indian Ocean, according to a new report by Australian investigators.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report released today, stated the debris found was “consistent with the aircraft being in a high and increasing rate of descent”.

In particular investigators found the outboard flap from the right wing of the plane, which washed up near Tanzania, was likely “in the retracted position”.

Greg Hood from the ATSB said that indicated the passenger plane “wasn’t configured for landing or ditching”.

“You can never be 100 per cent [sure] and we are very reluctant to express absolute certainty, but that’s the most likely scenario,” he said.

“You can draw you own conclusions as to whether they means someone was in control or not.”

The findings provide the clearest picture of the missing plane’s last moments to date.

They are being examined by experts from Malaysia, China, the US and UK who are meeting in Canberra over the next three days to review all of the evidence gathered during the ATSB investigation.

The flap is one several pieces from #MH370 that @atsbinfo investigators have been examining. It’s housed in a workshop in #Canberra. pic.twitter.com/RPApwC7LYO

— Jesse Dorsett (@jessedorsett) November 1, 2016

Search to wind up early next year

Flight MH370 disappeared on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014 with 239 passengers and crew on board, sparking a two-and-a-half year search.

Authorities had planned to wrap up the operation by the end of this year if they did not find the Boeing 777, but said scouring 120,000 square kilometres has taken longer than expected.

Today Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester confirmed the search would not be completed until early 2017 as conditions in the Southern Indian Ocean off Western Australia had proved to be extremely challenging.

“Keep in mind we’re talking about a search area which is located 2,600 kilometres off the coast of WA,” he said.

“We’re talking of a search area, in many cases, up to six kilometres deep in terms of the water and the sea conditions which have been extreme on many many occasions.”

Yesterday the ABC revealed Malaysia Airlines would hand over top secret records to the Australian families suing for compensation.

The surprise development emerged during a Federal Court Directions Hearing in Sydney in a case involving the adult children of four MH370 passengers — Rod and Mary Burrows, and Bob and Cathy Lawton.

It is thought to be the most advanced of all court actions against Malaysia Airlines and the lead insurer Allianz.

This post originally appeared on ABC News. 

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