The search team for a missing Indonesian passenger plane was reported Wednesday of having detected a significant undersea metal object suspected to be the cabin recording device known as black box.

 

National search and rescue team head Bambang Karnoyudho said a Navy warship had detected the object in the waters of South Sulawesi using its sonar device.

 

"So far we have detected a few significant objects in the area. However, we cannot really be sure before these objects are verified using a better device," he was quoted by English daily The Jakarta Post as saying.

 

The extensive search has been fruitless since the Boeing 737- 400 operated by local carrier Adam Air went missing with 102 people onboard on the New Year's Day.

 

Singapore, Canada and the United States have sent teams to help the search.

 

Bambang said a US ship with stronger sonar would start work in the area on Thursday.

 

"Singapore ahs also sent four sets of detectors to read undersea signals," he said.

 

Local authorities have collected 107 pieces of the plane debris, yet no significant clues were found to locate the plane.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2007)