News of the find has awakened new hopes among the team of crash investigators, that they may finally find the flight data recorders, which they say are crucial to determine the cause of the crash.

There's been speculation that malfunctioning speed sensors were to blame, but officials say other factors must have also contributed.

The search for the data recorders has been complicated and costly, with unmanned submarines diving to depths of up to 4,000 metres to scour the sea floor for traces of the plane.

Air France and the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, who've both been placed under investigation on charges of involuntary manslaughter over the crash, will be among those keen to see the flight recorders retrieved.

the find   the discovery

awakened    prompted

flight data recorders:

machines in planes which store information on what happened during each flight (e.g. plane's direction, weather conditions)

to determine the cause: 

to find out what made (the crash) happen

malfunctioning:

faulty

contributed:

added to the situation

costly :

very expensive

to scour :

to search thoroughly (along)

placed under investigation:

questioned as part of the inquiry

involuntary manslaughter: 

causing people to die, but not deliberately