Indonesian searchers looking for the missing jetliner carrying University students Stephanie and Lindsey Jackson discovered pieces of metal on the ocean floor Monday that could be the wreckage of the Jan. 1 flight, authorities told the Associated Press.
An Indonesian navy ship reportedly found three pieces of metal within several miles of each other off the coast of the island of Sulawesi.
U.S. National Transportation Safety Board representative Paul Schlamm could not confirm or deny the report on behalf of the organization, which is investigating the scene alongside Indonesian authorities.
Schlamm said the NTSB is involved at the request of the Indonesian government, and because of established international rules.
“We’re participating in the investigation as the country of the airplane manufacturer,” Schlamm said, speaking in reference to the missing Boeing 737-400.
The newest report comes after a series of earlier contradicting reports made it difficult for authorities to distinguish fact from fiction. A report last Tuesday erroneously stated that the plane had crashed in a remote mountain range on Sulawesi, killing at least 90 of the 102 people on board.
Fewer than 12 hours later, the report was denied by Indonesian air traffic coordinators who said the claim was based on rumors from local villagers.
Thousands of Indonesian military and volunteers will continue to investigate the area with additional teams from the United States and Singapore.