The Australian Transport Safety Bureau ruled out Thursday any link between material found on a beach in southwestern Australia and the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.
Debris described as “unidentified material” was found Wednesday on a beach near Augusta, more than 300 kilometres (180 miles) south of Perth, by a member of the public and handed to police.
The ATSB decided to examine photographs of the material to determine whether it was linked to the search for the missing Boeing 777. Photographs were also provided to the Malaysian investigation team. However ATSB chief commissioner Martin Dolan said
“We´ve carefully examined detailed photographs that were taken for us by the police, and we´re satisfied that it´s not a lead in terms of the search for MH370,” Dolan told the media.