Rome, Italy (CNN) -- The search for two Americans who went missing during an international gas-balloon race continued Saturday as an underwater robot joined in the pursuit.
Race organizers said Friday a balloon carrying Richard Abruzzo of New Mexico and Dr. Carol Rymer-Davis of Colorado over the Adriatic Sea near Italy made a rapid descent during rough weather, conditions which would make their survival "unlikely".
"This is very pessimistic information," says the statement from the race organization -- Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett.
Race officials from the competition said they lost contact with the balloon as it was over the sea shortly after 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET) Wednesday.
Croatian boats have started searching Croatian waters, and an underwater coastal guard unit equipped with an underwater robot is conducting a search, said Italian Coast Guard Warrant Officer Massimo Maccheroni.
CNN
