NTSB: may have found El Faro wreckage

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The National Transportation Safety Board announced late Saturday a crew may have found the wreckage of cargo ship El Faro.

A search team on board the USNS Apache found the wreckage about 15,000 feet down in the area it was last reported. El Faro disappeared near the Bahamas Oct. 1 during Hurricane Joaquin.

The NTSB said sonar equipment towed from the Apache first detected what they thought were images of the vessel. Specialists will now use a deep ocean remotely operated car to survey and confirm the identity of the wreckage. The NTSB said this survey could start early Sunday.

Crews said the sonar images show what looks like a 790-foot cargo ship in an upright position and in one piece.

If they are able to confirm the wreckage is El Faro, crews will start documenting the ship and debris field and attempt to find the voyage data recorder. The NTSB said that process could take up to 15 days in ideal conditions or even longer if the weather does not cooperate.

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