Report of survivors in crash called false

MAKASSAR, Indonesia -- Relatives waiting for news about a missing jetliner broke down in tears yesterday after learning that senior Indonesian officials erroneously reported the Boeing 737's wreckage had been found and that a dozen people may have survived.

The Adam Air plane carrying 102 people sent out two distress signals in stormy weather Monday halfway through its two-hour journey from Indonesia's main island of Java to Manado, on the northern tip of Sulawesi, one of the largest islands in the archipelago.

A rescue official said today that the plane had probably gone down in the sea.

"Oh, what is happening to us?" wailed Dorce Sundalangi, whose daughter was on the flight, after hearing the report that the wreckage was found was based on rumors from villagers that reached the highest levels of government. "They had given us hope of seeing our beloved relatives . . . but it was false hope."

Three of those aboard were American citizens, the US Embassy said. A US National Transportation Safety Board team was to arrive Friday to offer assistance.

Ships and planes resumed searching today. Three navy ships and five air force craft were deployed after sunrise over south and western Sulawesi and nearby waters, according to Bambang Karnoyudho, the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency.

Karnoyudho said that based on radar and satellite readings, he thought it most likely that the plane had fallen into the sea.

Yesterday was a day of hope and anguish for relatives of those on Flight KI-574. Police Chief Colonel Genot Hariyanto earlier said rescue teams arrived at the crash site. Setyo Raharjo, head of the National Commission on Transportation Safety, said 90 bodies were found near the wreckage and that the search for the 12 others was continuing.

Eventually, Transport Minister Hatta Radjasa acknowledged the news was based on rumors from villagers, sparking a series of reversals from other officials.