Origin of wing could be revealed this week as French experts begin MH370 probe

International crash experts yesterday began examining a wing part that washed up on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, as Australia's deputy prime minister said results to determine if it comes from the missing Malysia Airlines plane could be revealed this week.

The examination of the part is being carried out at an aeronautical test facility run by the French military at Balma, in the French city of Toulouse. Reunion is one of France's overseas territories.

Malaysian officials were due to witness the inspection of the part, alongside members of France's BEA agency, which probes air accidents. The two-metre part was flown to Toulouse at the weekend.

Officials from the United States and manufacturer Boeing were also on hand to advise whether the piece could be tied to Flight MH370, which went missing on March 8 last year while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board - 153 of whom were from China.

"Work is being undertaken by the Malaysian and French authorities to establish whether the flaperon originated from MH370," Australia's Warren Truss said. They "may be in a position to make a formal statement about the origin of the flaperon later this week".

The initial examination was expected to last until next Thursday but Malaysian officials are on stand-by in Kuala Lumpur in case results emerge earlier.