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Indonesia jet debris discovered | Indonesia jet debris discovered |
(10 minutes later) | |
A section of a missing Indonesian plane has been found by fishermen just off the west coast of Sulawesi island, search officials have said. | A section of a missing Indonesian plane has been found by fishermen just off the west coast of Sulawesi island, search officials have said. |
The section, a piece of a Boeing 737's tailfin, had a serial number matching the missing Adam Air plane. | The section, a piece of a Boeing 737's tailfin, had a serial number matching the missing Adam Air plane. |
Local radio also reported that parts of plane seats were being washed ashore. | Local radio also reported that parts of plane seats were being washed ashore. |
None of plane's 102 passengers or crew have been found since it disappeared on 1 January, half way through its flight from Java to Sulawesi. | None of plane's 102 passengers or crew have been found since it disappeared on 1 January, half way through its flight from Java to Sulawesi. |
"This morning I announced that there has been a finding of a part of Adam Air. What was found was the right tail's stabiliser, number 65C25746-76," the head of the search and rescue mission, Eddy Suyanto, told reporters. | "This morning I announced that there has been a finding of a part of Adam Air. What was found was the right tail's stabiliser, number 65C25746-76," the head of the search and rescue mission, Eddy Suyanto, told reporters. |
Mr Suyanto said the fragment of the plane was found by a fisherman at 0300 local time on Thursday (2000 GMT Wednesday). | Mr Suyanto said the fragment of the plane was found by a fisherman at 0300 local time on Thursday (2000 GMT Wednesday). |
The tailfin section was found some 300m (985 ft) from the shore, near Parepare, a seaside town north of Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi province, Mr Suyanto said. | |
The news was greeted with relief by relatives desperate for news of their loved ones on the plane. | The news was greeted with relief by relatives desperate for news of their loved ones on the plane. |
"I cried when I heard, but now I'm relieved," said Rosmala Dewi, whose daughter was a stewardess on the flight. | "I cried when I heard, but now I'm relieved," said Rosmala Dewi, whose daughter was a stewardess on the flight. |
"At the very least we now have a sign [of where the plane landed]," she told the Associated Press. | "At the very least we now have a sign [of where the plane landed]," she told the Associated Press. |
Search continues | Search continues |
Mr Suyanto said it was still unclear if the plane had crashed into the sea or exploded mid-air. | Mr Suyanto said it was still unclear if the plane had crashed into the sea or exploded mid-air. |
"Therefore the search will continue from the air, in the sea and on land, but the focus would be at sea," he said. | "Therefore the search will continue from the air, in the sea and on land, but the focus would be at sea," he said. |
The plane disappeared more than 10 days ago, after battling strong winds and twice changing course during a flight from Surabaya in Central Java to Manado in northern Sulawesi. | The plane disappeared more than 10 days ago, after battling strong winds and twice changing course during a flight from Surabaya in Central Java to Manado in northern Sulawesi. |
A massive air, land and sea operation has been under way ever since, with several other countries offering help with the search. | A massive air, land and sea operation has been under way ever since, with several other countries offering help with the search. |
Bad weather has hampered the hunt, as have false leads. Government officials had to apologise soon after the plane's disappearance for erroneously saying that the wreckage had been found. | Bad weather has hampered the hunt, as have false leads. Government officials had to apologise soon after the plane's disappearance for erroneously saying that the wreckage had been found. |
Since Monday, the search effort focused off the coast of western Sulawesi, on the advice of another local fisherman, who reported seen a low-flying, unstable plane in the area. | Since Monday, the search effort focused off the coast of western Sulawesi, on the advice of another local fisherman, who reported seen a low-flying, unstable plane in the area. |
A US Navy ocean ship equipped with sonar was employed to scan the seabed for clues, off the coast from Mamuju, but that search area is some way north of Parepare. |