Indonesia Says Serial Numbers Match Adam Air 747

Officials confirmed Thursday metal fragments found earlier this week on the bottom of the ocean floor are from the wreckage of an Adam Air 737 missing since January 1.

The Associated Press reports search crews working off the northeastern coast of Indonesia pulled pieces of the plane's tail section from the Makassar Strait Thursday, as well as a seatback, tray table, and shards believed to be from the plane's fuselage. Serial numbers on the recovered wreckage match those of the Adam Air 737-400.

As Aero-News reported, the plane with 102 persons onboard disappeared from radar about halfway through its flight from Java to the North Sulawesi provincial capital of Manado. The plane altered course at least twice to avoid nearby storms before it disappeared.

Relatives of the missing passengers and crew say the discovery brought mixed emotions.

"I cried when I heard, but I am now relieved," said Rosmala Dewi, whose daughter was a flight attendant on Adam Air flight KI-574.

"After all this waiting, confirmation that the plane has been found is like being given water in the desert," added Freddy Sumolang, whose daughter Inggrid was on the flight with her husband and their two children. "I hope rescuers will find my daughter and her family."

Crews have not located any bodies from the wreckage.

FMI: www.flyadamair.com