La Réunion
 

Antoine Forestier's local tv news programme is referring to the tattered suitcase as being "partly burned"

After that time in saltwater, it is quite hard to do any metallurgical analysis, corrosion will have destroyed most evidence.
Damage to trailing edge might be interesting though. Composites should still show whether it failed in tension or compression after contact with seawater. If lower skin failed in tension, upper in compression/bending, controlled ditching with deflected flaps becomes a realistic scenario.

At least something to analyse, so we can stop speculating.

Not really. You could say the same about this piece (not the best of examples but good enough to show you can't judge a book by it's cover): https://www.metabunk.org/data/MetaMi...4eead329b4.jpg

BB 670
 

BB 670
consult the AMM
But that number is consistent with the right flaperon access panels location identification for a BOEING 777-200--

per L'info à La Réunion
here's a clearer picture of the case:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLJcILpW8AAIstc.jpg:large

At least both pieces are not consistent with an high speed impact of an intact airframe. To tell an inflight breakup from a controlled ditching is not that easy if you just see single pieces.
A gone trailing edge with a largely intact torque box is not very likely for an inflight breakup. The intact torque box alone could fit that scenario, both do make a high speed impact relatively unlikely, but such events are always somehow random, so a single piece does not tell too much.

Hopefully more items will wash out on that island. I reckon a good look around on the beaches would be beneficial!

That so called suitcase is jst debris of what it was once a suitcase and it is gonna be hard to be identified as originating from an ac. Unless it is the same model/type of bag that crew are using.

It is illogical to make any link between the aircraft part and a suitcase. There will be very few 777 parts floating in the Indian Ocean and so if the finding is confirmed there is a high probability it belongs to MH370. Suitcases - not nearly so unusual.

When finding any flotsam in the same area it may be tempting to link them, and if this was still mere days from the accident there may be some justification for that. But after all this time there is none.

The Air Aural engineer's reported comments as "99.9%" from a 777 has validity since they operate the type from the Island. A fascinating development if it is therefore from 370. Just one small piece of evidence can give so much more than none.

Is there some mechanic around who knows where Boeing is putting the serial numbers? Looks like the fittings are torn off, it would be real bad luck if that is where the serial number label is attached...

The other numbers floating around here are access panel numbers, nothing to identify the specific aircraft. Access panels are removed frequently and lie around by the hundereds in the workshop, hence they all have (systematic) numbers.
It´s a serial number which could make all the difference between a piece of scrap and a piece of evidence...

You don't necessarily need to find a sernum, you just have to conclude that no other 777 has ever lost a flaperon over ocean.

The number given corresponds to the are and panel number, S/N data plates are usually riveted to the outside so that can easily be checked there may also be it handwritten on the inside with a coat of varnish over it.

here you go:

closeup image https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLKRLtrWsAERcfd.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLKRLtrWsAERcfd.jpg

from this feed https://twitter.com/delarue_julien/s...716480/photo/1

The NY Times reports (from Paris) that the BEA will bring the flaperon to a laboratory in France for analysis. The reporting indicated that the French were in the process of deciding which laboratory.

True. However, it merits a more directed search for flotsam around Reunion most of my luggage has metal and plastic identity markers. I would suspect a fair proportion of luggage may contain identifiable articles. One suitcase merits your response - a wide spread of many suitcases would be something different. It is well worth a small surface search up current from Reunion. There could be witness marks on other pieces found that would provide more clues to what happened.

I've seen the occasional mention of a controlled "ditching" on water. I can't figure out in what event that could have occurred, seeing as the aircraft flew so far out in to the middle of nowhere. Why would it then ditch in a controlled fashion?

AirLive.net: Piece of wing found on La Réunion Island could be #MH370 Boeing 777 flaperon
Quite a lot of info here

Data plate/Serial Plate
 

The data plate is located on the inboard end of the Flaperon on the outside as per Boeing engineering drawing. It is a metal plate that is bonded/sealed on and not riveted. From the pictures of the inboard end the data plate has fallen off. Everyone keeps talking about a serial number and the data plate would have that information, sorry that direct evidence is gone. Only other method would be to look at part numbers on details that are part of the flaperon assembly. Some metal fittings may have an ID if they don't have sealer on the faying surface covering it. In that case it would more likely be a supplier ID and not a Boeing ID. The composite panels that build the assembly would have supplier IDs as well and would give you the date of manufacture of the details. Its possible the supplier kept a log of which details went into the assembly and that would give you a MFG date of the flaperon assembly.

It's rather simple. You probably only fly out into nowhere if you do not wish to be found. If you crash, the wreckage will probably be found. If you ditch in one piece and sink, you are unlikely to be found. QED.

Whilst the suitcase may be a red herring, I would not write its connection off immediately.

Have you ever tried to buy a matching piece of luggage?

Unless it is a very cheap case it should be possible to identify manufacturer, year of manufacture, get a picture of an original, determine where it could have been sold even. Then it might be possible for a relative to confirm if it might be that of a missing passenger.