3 Sep 2007

Extension of search after French Polynesian plane crash

3:12 pm on 3 September 2007

The service of a special vessel in French Polynesia has been extended by two days as the recovery of a crashed plane continues.

The authorities say the special vessel equipped with a submarine has found the voice recorder about 700 meters under water.

The French Polynesian plane crashed into the sea three weeks ago but six of the 20 bodies are yet to be recovered.

The Air Moorea Twin Otter crashed shortly after take-off from Moorea on its way to nearby Tahiti, killing all 20 people on board.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined and investigators hope the voice recorder will give clues as to what happened.