This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7649799.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Remains found in Fossett's plane | Remains found in Fossett's plane |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US investigators say they have found what they believe may be human remains amid the wreckage of adventurer Steve Fossett's plane in eastern California. | US investigators say they have found what they believe may be human remains amid the wreckage of adventurer Steve Fossett's plane in eastern California. |
| The remains, although minimal, are said to be enough to provide a DNA sample for identification testing. | The remains, although minimal, are said to be enough to provide a DNA sample for identification testing. |
| The 63-year-old millionaire disappeared a year ago while on a solo flight from a ranch in neighbouring Nevada. | The 63-year-old millionaire disappeared a year ago while on a solo flight from a ranch in neighbouring Nevada. |
| His plane was finally located on Wednesday after a hiker handed items belonging to Mr Fossett to police. | His plane was finally located on Wednesday after a hiker handed items belonging to Mr Fossett to police. |
| 'Bone fragment' | 'Bone fragment' |
| The wreckage was found during a subsequent aerial search of a remote stretch of the Sierra Nevada mountains west of the town of Mammoth Lakes, at an altitude of around 10,000ft (3,048m). | The wreckage was found during a subsequent aerial search of a remote stretch of the Sierra Nevada mountains west of the town of Mammoth Lakes, at an altitude of around 10,000ft (3,048m). |
| Click here to see a map of the area | Click here to see a map of the area |
| A ground team flown into the area by helicopter later confirmed the identity of the plane, a single-engine Bellanca Super Decathlon, which officials said seemed to have struck the mountainside head-on. | A ground team flown into the area by helicopter later confirmed the identity of the plane, a single-engine Bellanca Super Decathlon, which officials said seemed to have struck the mountainside head-on. |
| "It was a hard-impact crash, and he would've died instantly," said Jeff Page, emergency management co-ordinator for Lyon County, Nevada, who assisted in the search. | "It was a hard-impact crash, and he would've died instantly," said Jeff Page, emergency management co-ordinator for Lyon County, Nevada, who assisted in the search. |
| Most of the fuselage had disintegrated, with engine parts scattered over a debris field stretching about 150ft (46m) by 400ft (122m). | Most of the fuselage had disintegrated, with engine parts scattered over a debris field stretching about 150ft (46m) by 400ft (122m). |
| Search teams combing the site found more personal effects and what they described as a bone fragment, measuring 2 inches (5cm) by 1.5 inches (2.5cm). | Search teams combing the site found more personal effects and what they described as a bone fragment, measuring 2 inches (5cm) by 1.5 inches (2.5cm). |
| SOME OF FOSSETT'S RECORDS 1998/2002: Long-distance for solo ballooning2001/2002: Duration for solo ballooning2002: First solo round-the-world balloon flightFirst balloon crossings of Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, South Atlantic, South Pacific, Indian OceansSeven fastest speed sailing titles13 World Sailing Speed Record Council titles2001: Fastest transatlantic sailing2004: Fastest round-the-world sailingRound-the-world titles for medium airplanesUS transcontinental titles for non-military aircraft In pictures: Steve FossettProfile: Steve Fossett | SOME OF FOSSETT'S RECORDS 1998/2002: Long-distance for solo ballooning2001/2002: Duration for solo ballooning2002: First solo round-the-world balloon flightFirst balloon crossings of Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, South Atlantic, South Pacific, Indian OceansSeven fastest speed sailing titles13 World Sailing Speed Record Council titles2001: Fastest transatlantic sailing2004: Fastest round-the-world sailingRound-the-world titles for medium airplanesUS transcontinental titles for non-military aircraft In pictures: Steve FossettProfile: Steve Fossett |
| "We found human remains, but there's very little," said Mark Rosenker, acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. "Given the length of time the wreckage has been out there, it's not surprising there's not very much." | "We found human remains, but there's very little," said Mark Rosenker, acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. "Given the length of time the wreckage has been out there, it's not surprising there's not very much." |
| DNA tests would be performed on the material on a lab in California, he said. | DNA tests would be performed on the material on a lab in California, he said. |
| Earlier, Madera County Sheriff John Anderson confirmed the find but injected a note of caution. "We don't know if it's human. It certainly could be," he said. | Earlier, Madera County Sheriff John Anderson confirmed the find but injected a note of caution. "We don't know if it's human. It certainly could be," he said. |
| Officials now plan to remove the wreckage of the plane for reassembly and examination, and search for further human remains. But snow is expected over the weekend, which could potentially hamper the investigation. | Officials now plan to remove the wreckage of the plane for reassembly and examination, and search for further human remains. But snow is expected over the weekend, which could potentially hamper the investigation. |
| Steve Fossett became the first person to circle the globe solo in a balloon in 2002 and had about 100 other world records to his name. | Steve Fossett became the first person to circle the globe solo in a balloon in 2002 and had about 100 other world records to his name. |
| He vanished in September 2007 after taking off from a Nevada ranch for a solo flight. | He vanished in September 2007 after taking off from a Nevada ranch for a solo flight. |
| For more than a year there was no trace of him, despite an intensive search. | For more than a year there was no trace of him, despite an intensive search. |
| But on Monday the hiker found identification documents belonging to him in undergrowth about 0.25 miles (0.4km) from the crash site, triggering an aerial search of a new area. | But on Monday the hiker found identification documents belonging to him in undergrowth about 0.25 miles (0.4km) from the crash site, triggering an aerial search of a new area. |
| "The uncertainty surrounding my husband's death over this past year has created a very difficult situation for me," Mr Fossett's widow, Peggy, said in a statement. "I hope now to be able to bring to closure a very painful chapter in my life. | "The uncertainty surrounding my husband's death over this past year has created a very difficult situation for me," Mr Fossett's widow, Peggy, said in a statement. "I hope now to be able to bring to closure a very painful chapter in my life. |
| "I prefer to think about Steve's life rather than his death and celebrate his many extraordinary accomplishments." | "I prefer to think about Steve's life rather than his death and celebrate his many extraordinary accomplishments." |
| British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson also paid tribute to his friend and fellow adventurer. | British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson also paid tribute to his friend and fellow adventurer. |
| "He led an extraordinary, absolutely remarkable life, and now we can remember him for what he was and move on," he said. | "He led an extraordinary, absolutely remarkable life, and now we can remember him for what he was and move on," he said. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |