Monday, January 08, 2007

LOST INDONESIAN AIRLINER MAY HAVE BEEN FOUND


And, if so, it is, apparently, under water, and scattered in three major places in a several-mile radius, which would indicate that it exploded, or broke up midair for some reason:
MAKASSAR, Indonesia (AP) -- An Indonesian navy ship has detected metal on the ocean floor that might be the wreckage of a jetliner that disappeared one week ago with 102 people on board, a top commander said Monday. A more sophisticated U.S. Navy ocean mapping ship assisting in the search for the Boeing 737 was heading to waters off Sulawesi Island's western coast to do a more detailed survey, said Gatot Sudijanto, a commodore in the Indonesian navy.

"If that metal turns out to be what we are looking for, then thanks be to God," he said, adding that it was found in three locations within a several-mile radius.

The Adam Air plane left Java island for the North Sulawesi provincial capital of Manado on New Year's Day, but experienced 180 mph winds and storms halfway through the two-hour flight, forcing it to change course at least twice, officials said.

The pilot never issued a mayday or reported technical problems.
[Umph added.]

Air navigation can be difficult in Indonesia, which has been called the world's largest archipelago, because there are gaps in the communications systems.

4 comments:

  1. The idea that a jetliner that can travel at speeds of 550 mph and which routinely encounters jetstream winds of 200 mph would be broken up midair by 80 mph winds is ridiculous.

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  2. it was 180mph in the article. stil bunk.

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  3. Whatever one speculates it will not change what did in fact happen. let's hope they find the debris...and the answer.

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