Air France jet debris sighted in ocean

Brazil's government confirmed late on Tuesday that debris spotted by aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean came from an Air France flight carrying 228 people that disappeared the day before.

Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim told a media conference in Rio de Janeiro "there are no doubts" items floating in the sea belonged to flight AF 447 that was going from Rio to Paris.

"A five-kilometre long strip of debris - cables and other aircraft components" were spotted by several flyovers through the day, he said.

They "confirmed that the plane fell at this spot."

Brazilian authorities had been cautious about definitely saying debris first discovered before dawn on Tuesday came from the Air France Airbus.

But Jobim gave his confirmation to reporters after further aerial inspections.

His announcement to the media followed a visit to a Rio hotel where relatives of those on the Air France plane were being cared for by a team including psychological and medical personnel.

Jobim said three merchant vessels were in the debris zone and the first of several Brazilian navy vessels would arrive early on Wednesday.

"They will start the work to recover these items that were spotted" early on Tuesday by Brazilian air force planes, he said.

The minister said the Air France plane came down in Brazilian waters.

He added that, in parallel to the recovery of the debris, searches would continue for any bodies.

If human remains were found, they would be transported by ship to the nearest airport, on Brazil's archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, 460 kilometres away. From there, they would be flown out on Air Force planes, he said.

Brazil's foreign ministry was in contact with French diplomats to determine the conditions under which the bodies French passengers would be repatriated.

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