Wreckage Of Kenya Airways Plane Found In Forest

By EMMANUEL TUMANJONG The Associated Press

Published: May 7, 2007

DOUALA, CAMEROON - The wreckage of a Kenya Airways jetliner that crashed was found late Sunday in a dense mangrove forest outside Cameroon's commercial capital, aviation officials said. There was no information on survivors.

Dozens of rescue workers and journalists walking through the swamp at night reached the edge of the crash site but did not immediately find survivors. Reporters said they had found only small, scattered pieces of wreckage before they had to abandon the search because of darkness and deep water. Teams said they would resume at first light and follow the debris trail in hopes of finding the main part of the wreckage.

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Titus Naikuni said he had no news about the plane's condition or about the 114 people who were onboard.

The cause of the crash remained unclear.

The wreckage was found about 12 miles southeast of Douala, along its flight path. It had been difficult to spot because it was hidden by a thick canopy of trees, Naikuni said.

The Nairobi-bound Boeing 737-800 had departed from Douala airport early Saturday, an hour late because of rain, with 105 passengers and nine crew members onboard. The plane issued a distress call but then lost contact with the radio tower 11 to 13 minutes after takeoff, officials said.