UNDERWATER GRAVEYARD
Haunting image of kid’s Marvel backpack among Indonesia plane crash wreckage found by divers at bottom of the ocean
A CHILD'S Marvel backpack has been found by divers sifting through the mangled wreckage of the Indonesian plane disaster - a haunting image reveals.
Chilling underwater pictures have started to emerge as investigators say the passenger jet was probably still intact when it smashed into the sea killing all on board.
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Divers are today scouring the Java Sea to find the black boxes from the jet as they are crucial in determining what caused the tragedy.
Footage from the crash site - released by the Indonesian navy - shows divers probing debris from the downed Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-50 .
The backpack was among personal belongings found by the search team after the plane plunged 10,000ft into the water.
Around 2,600 personnel are now involved in the huge recovery effort, which is taking place in shallower waters.
The Boeing 737 - carrying 62 passengers and crew - came down just minutes after take-off from the capital Jakarta on a domestic flight on Saturday.
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It had left the capital Jakarta's main airport on a domestic flight to Pontianak on Borneo, 460 miles away before it disappeared from radar screens.
Rescuers are today continuing with the grim task of identifying bodies and sifting through wreckage and personal belongings recovered from the sea.
An investigator with Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said the Sriwijaya Air jet possibly broke apart when it hit waters based on debris found so far.
“We don't know for sure, but if we look at the debris, they're scattered in an area that is not too wide,” Nurcahyo Utomo said on Monday.
“It possibly ruptured when it hit waters because if it had exploded midair, the debris would be distributed more widely.”
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In charge of the aircraft was Captain Afwan, a 54-year-old former air force pilot and dad-of-three.
Before leaving for the airport he complained that "his shirt hadn't been ironed, when usually he is really neat", his nephew
The captain also apologised to his three children for having to leave them again.
Family and colleagues said the pilot was a devout Muslim was eager to help people in his neighbourhood in the West Java town of Bogor.
"He was a very good man. He often gave advice, wise advice. He was a prominent figure in his neighbourhood and was well-known for his kindness," said his nephew .
"I'm devastated and can't believe that this is happening. Please pray for uncle and our family," he added.
His profile picture on social media is a cartoon of Superman praying, with the words "it doesn't matter how high you fly, you will never reach heaven if you don't pray".
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Rescuers have so far found one of the jet's turbines, pieces of the plane's tail, the rim of a wheel and an emergency chute, as well as clothing and personal belongings from passengers.
Flight SJ 182 had 12 crew and 50 passengers - including 10 children - on board, who were all Indonesians.
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