Indonesian rescuers launched new sea, land and air searches today for a missing plane with 102 people aboard after initial reports its wreckage had been found turned out to be false.
Senior government officials have apologized for erroneously saying the 17-year-old Boeing 737-400, operated by budget carrier Adam Air, had been spotted in the mountains of Indonesia's eastern Sulawesi island after disappearing in heavy rain.
Transport Minister Hatta Radjasa also denied reports 12 people had survived.
After a day filled with confusing information, rescuers resumed the search using military planes in areas around the western coast of rugged Sulawesi island, where the plane gave out distress signals before all communication was lost on Monday.
The search began at daybreak amid heavy rain and strong winds and was coordinated from Makassar, Sulawesi's largest city, 1,400 km (875 miles) east of Jakarta.
Minister Radjasa told reporters navy ships have also been sent to the Makassar Strait between Sulawesi and Borneo islands to cover possibilities the plane fell into water.
"Our major obstacle is the weather which is quite a significant problem," he said, adding the planes would use an airport on Borneo as a temporary base as heavy rains have been drenching Makassar.