Hunt for missing flight MH370 reliant on just three pieces of crucial evidence five years on from mystery that spawned hundreds of conspiracy theories

A TV crew in Australia has been given exclusive access to the startling evidence which could help uncover the whereabouts of the doomed Malaysian Airlines flight and those on board.

In a preview for Sunday night’s '60 Minutes', cameras take viewers behind the scenes to an evidence room in Malaysia holding the only known fragments of the plane.

More than 30 bits of debris have been collected from around the world, but only three wing fragments that washed up along the west coast of the Indian Ocean have been confirmed to be from MH370.

One of the pieces included a two-metre wing part known as a flaperon, reports news.com.au.

At the end of last year, five pieces of debris were found washed up off Madagascar in what was described as a “massive breakthrough” in the search for the missing flight.

Jacquita Gonzales, the wife of MH370 steward Patrick Gomes, held up the debris to the cameras as other relatives begged the government to allow search efforts to continue.

V.R. Nathan, whose wife Anne Daisy was on the doomed jet, said the debris consisted of five small plane parts found off by local fishermen.

But the “secret vault” that will be featured on 60 Minutes claims to hold the only three pieces of debris that are confirmed as being from the doomed flight – including the Boeing 777’s flap.

MH370 – WHAT HAPPENED?

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur and was heading to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Passengers included Chinese calligraphers, a couple on their way home to their young sons after a long-delayed honeymoon and a construction worker who hadn't been home in a year.

But at 12.14am on March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines lost contact with MH370 close to Phuket island in the Strait of Malacca.

Before that, Malaysian authorities believe the last words heard from the plane, from either the pilot or co-pilot, was "Good night Malaysian three seven zero".

Satellite "pings" from the aircraft suggest it continued flying for around seven hours when the fuel would have run out.

Experts have calculated the most likely crash site around 1,000 miles west of Perth, Australia.

But a huge search of the seabed failed to find any wreckage – and there are a number of alternative theories as to its fate.

In July 2018, the Malaysian government’s report into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 says all the evidence points to the fact the plane was deliberately flown out into the Indian Ocean.

According to the report, the only way MH370 would have been able to deviate from its flight path was if it was under deliberate, manual control.

But there were still more questions than answers after the report was handed down – and the conspiracy theories surrounding the disappearance are legion.

Malaysia’s new government has said the search could be resumed but only if new and compelling evidence comes to light.

During the 60 Minutes investigation, reporter Sarah Abo stands with MH370 widow Danica Weeks as she is introduced to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad.

It’s the first time the politician has met with a victim’s relative since the disaster and is her final attempt at getting answers.

During their meeting Ms Weeks pleads with the Prime Minister to reopen the investigation.

“This is it. This is my last-ditch effort,” Ms Weeks, whose husband died in the crash, tells Abo.

“This isn’t just about 239 people on a Boeing 777, this is about eight million people every day that get on a flight.”

There have been many theories surrounding the mysterious disappearance of flight MH370 including ones that blame Vladimir Putin, North Korea and even organ harvesters.

Others believe the pilot, Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, planned the incident – and may have even jumped from the plane in a parachute.

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