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/asia-pacific/6233153.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Search for Indonesia plane widens US team joins in search for plane
(1 day later)
The search for a missing passenger plane on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi has been widened, as there is still no sign of the wreckage. A team of US investigators has arrived on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi to take part in a search for a plane which disappeared without trace on Monday.
Ground, air and sea units are combing the west of the island, looking for the Boeing 737, which disappeared from radar screens on Monday. The six-man team, including two representatives from the plane's manufacturer Boeing, will investigate causes of the accident.
A military commander leading the operation said the search would now be expanded to other parts of the island. The search for the Boeing 737-400 was widened on Friday, as there has still been no sign of the wreckage.
A total of 102 people were on board the plane, which was operated by Adam Air.A total of 102 people were on board the plane, which was operated by Adam Air.
Flight path Rescue teams are combing the west of the island for the plane, which vanished off radar screens on Monday.
Four days after the flight disappeared from radar screens, officials say any signal from the plane or its wreckage will now be gone. The search is now focusing on the flight path and the weather in the area at the time, which may have caused it to veer off-course.
Instead the search is focusing on the flight path and the weather in the area at the time, which may have caused it to veer off-course.
The flight was last identified halfway through its flight from Surabaya, on central Java island, to Manado, on the north-east tip of Sulawesi.The flight was last identified halfway through its flight from Surabaya, on central Java island, to Manado, on the north-east tip of Sulawesi.
The search had previously concentrated on areas in western Sulawesi, where emergency signals from the plane were last received. The search had previously concentrated on areas in western Sulawesi, where emergency signals from the plane were last received, but has now moved elsewhere.
But according to Air Commander Eddie Suyanto, search teams will shortly be sent to the north and east of Sulawesi to look for evidence of a possible crash site there. "It's impossible that it just disappeared," said Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla. "Even if it takes a month ... we have to keep searching."
"Today we widen our scope because we did not find anything in the area covered by emergency signals," he told reporters.
"Although it is the fifth day, our spirits are still full," added air force Lieutenant Colonel Firdaus Syamsudin, a search co-ordinator.
Bad weather has hampered the search, as have false leads. Government officials have apologised for erroneously saying earlier this week that the wreckage had been found.Bad weather has hampered the search, as have false leads. Government officials have apologised for erroneously saying earlier this week that the wreckage had been found.
Ferry investigationFerry investigation
Meanwhile, off the island of Java, another search and rescue operation is continuing, to find victims of a ferry which sank in the area last weekend.Meanwhile, off the island of Java, another search and rescue operation is continuing, to find victims of a ferry which sank in the area last weekend.
A ferry survivor's accountA ferry survivor's account
So far, 220 people have been rescued alive, but twice that number are still believed to be missing. So far, more than 230 people have been rescued alive, but twice that number are still believed to be missing.
President Sushilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered that the search should carry on, citing cases from the 2004 Asian tsunami where people stayed alive on rafts for up to three weeks.
An inquiry has begun into the causes of the disaster.An inquiry has begun into the causes of the disaster.
One of the investigators involved said initial reports from surviving passengers and crew suggested the ship had not been overloaded, and that bad weather may have contributed to the sinking.One of the investigators involved said initial reports from surviving passengers and crew suggested the ship had not been overloaded, and that bad weather may have contributed to the sinking.
But she said the committee had not yet reached any conclusions and investigators plan to interview the captain of the ship in the coming days.But she said the committee had not yet reached any conclusions and investigators plan to interview the captain of the ship in the coming days.