Brazilian search planes have spotted aircraft debris in an
area of the South Atlantic where an Air France jetliner disappeared Monday off
Brazil's northeastern coast.
Authorities said searchers spotted airplane seats, oil and metal parts about
650 kilometers off the coast. There were no signs of survivors.
Early Tuesday afternoon, the Brazilian navy said it had diverted three nearby
commercial ships to the debris field and said two of the vessels were already
at the site and examining the materials. A third ship is expected within hours.
Brazilian naval ships are due in the area late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Additionally, the U.S. Navy has deployed a 21-crew (Orion) surveillance
aircraft, and France is sending a ship that can drop unmanned submarines to
depths of 6,000 meters.
The Airbus A330 plane carrying 228 people vanished early Monday, about four
hours after departing Rio de Janeiro for Paris.