Wreckage Could Shed Light On What Happened To Malaysia Airlines Plane

EAST LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing late last week, could explain what exactly happened to the Boeing 777.

"The metal really can tell a story," said Thomas Anthony, the director of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program. "The way in which one piece of metal separates from another can be very telling."

Anthony said if and when the wreckage is found, it could reveal if the plane exploded mid-air or if it disintegrated upon ocean impact.

He said floating pieces could also help point searchers in the direction of where the other parts of the wreckage could be.

"Those pieces may have separated and the aircraft continued on for some miles," he said.

Meantime, Chinese satellite imagery showed three floating objects off the southern tip of Vietnam. Vietnamese officials said the area was already searched thoroughly and it's not from the missing jet.