Rome, Italy (CNN) -- Searchers looking for two Americans who went missing in an international gas-balloon race have found debris in the Adriatic Sea, Italian authorities said Friday.
Italian Coast Guard Warrant Office Massimo Maccheroni said a search boat found the debris. An underwater vessel is en route and should reach the scene in the next few hours, he said. The nature of the debris could not be confirmed.
Race officials said they lost contact with the balloon of Richard Abruzzo of New Mexico and Dr. Carol Rymer-Davis of Colorado, competing in the Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett, as it was over the sea shortly after 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET) Wednesday during rough weather.
The U.S. Consulate and military in Italy were assisting the search operations, the race flight director said Friday. Italian maritime authorities are leading the nautical and aerial effort.
Abruzzo's wife, Nancy, said the scenario is challenging, but she is hopeful.
CNN
