Brazil navy ends search for missing balloonist priest

In this picture released by the family of Catholic priest Adelir de Carli, De Carli, center, holds a navigation aid equipment before a balloon flight in Parana state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008. De Carli left from the Brazilian port city of Paranagua for a balloon flight Sunday and is reported disappeared since then. The Brazilian Air Force suspended Thursday De Carli's search, prompting the priest's family to charter a private plane to continue the hunt. (AP Photo)

SAO PAULO, Brazil—Brazil's navy has dropped its search for a priest who vanished more than a week ago while floating over the Atlantic with a cluster of party balloons, a spokeswoman said Monday.

The Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli has been missing since April 20, shortly after he lifted off from the southern port city of Paranagua strapped to 1,000 helium-filled balloons.

Navy spokeswoman Lt. Catia Sandri said the hunt, conducted with one helicopter and two boats, was called off over the weekend because no sign of the priest was found after 135 hours of searching.

She said several private fishing boats were still looking for the Roman Catholic priest, but said chances of finding de Carli alive in the ocean are "very remote."

The air force ended its four-day search for the priest on Thursday after its planes covered more than 1,900 square miles of land and sea.

Fire department rescue teams continued looking for the 41-year-old priest in densely forested coastal mountains, said Deputy Fire Commander Paulo Eduardo Neves.

The priest had been trying to raise money to build a rest stop and worship center for truckers.

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