New wreckage that may be from missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 could be the first proof for the theory that the plane was exposed to intense heat or fire.

The debris was brought to Australia and handed to officials at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in Canberra on Monday morning.

If the debris is confirmed to be from flight 370, it would support the theory that an onboard fire crippled the Boeing 777’s systems, leaving pilots struggling to get back to safety before being overwhelmed by fumes or lack of oxygen.

It was found on the coast of Madagascar, the huge island nation off the southeast coast of Africa where the majority of suspected debris has come ashore so far.

Blaine Gibson, an American lawyer turned self-styled investigator into the mystery of flight 370, has brought more suspected and confirmed pieces of wreckage back from Africa than anyone else.

“I am bringing these [new pieces of debris] over to ATSB, which will give the absolute best forensic analysis and investigation possible,” he told the ABC.

“There are two that have burned and singe marks on them, and if those are found to be from Malaysia 370 and if it is discovered that the fire took place before the crash, then this is a real game changer that could help identify what was the cause of the planes demise.

“I’d add that of these five pieces, three of them are from the fuselage.”

While it remains too soon to know whether Mr Gibson’s theory as to the provenance of the objects was correct, the new debris has the honeycomb pattern that was unique to Boeing’s composite materials.

And some strongly resemble panelling used in the Boeing 777.

Mr Gibson has speculated that the panel with a scorched appearance could be from the avionics bay – which is located below and behind the cockpit under the main cabin floor.

“One of the theories is that there was a fire on the plane,” he said.

He said that so far there was no evidence to support that theory, but if the new debris was determined to be from flight 370 and the heat exposure occurred before the crash, “then that’s a very significant clue”.

MH370 has been missing since March 2014. Photo: Getty

Malaysia should step aside: relatives

Relatives of the plane’s passengers and crew have also been in Canberra to visit the ATSB.

It was meant to be a private visit, initiated by Australian search officials who saw firsthand how the next of kin are sidelined in Malaysia.

Grace Nathan’s mother Anne was on the missing flight and on behalf of the next of kin she seized the moment to ask Australia’s search officials to petition Malaysia to step aside from the investigation.

“One of the theories is that there was a fire on the plane.”
American investigator Blaine Gibson

“I think the topic will come up about whether it’s possible for Malaysia to really push its authority over the search, its power over the search,” she said.

“And to hand it over to another nation that is willing and capable of taking over.”

Next of kin who were not in Canberra said they wanted it to be known that they stood united against the airline.

K S Narendran, whose partner was on flight 370, said the families and the public at large were being “short-changed”.

He said he believed that for almost three months potential debris had been “languishing in Madagascar”.

“It boggles our mind as to why that country, which is in charge of the investigation, would simply not pick it up,” he said.

-ABC