'Human remains' found in Steve Fossett's plane wreckage
3 Oct 2008, 1030 Hrs

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London, Oct 3 California officials said that they have discovered body parts inside the wreckage of Steve Fossett's plane in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the record-breaking aviator who vanished just over a year ago.

The finding may question the rumors making rounds on the net that the billionaire adventurer faked his own death in last September's crash.

Federal investigators from the national transport safety board said they had identified "a very small" amount of remains - but judged it was enough to provide DNA to coroners, reports Telegraph.

However, the board's acting chairman refused to answer which body parts were found. The chief maintained that it was not surprising so little remained more than a year since the accident.

It was earlier speculated that wild animals - the arid hills of eastern California are home to coyotes - might have eaten Fossett's corpse.

Fossett's single-engined Bellanca's remains were discovered about 10,000ft up in the Sierra Nevada mountains west of the skiing town of Mammoth Lakes.

The wreckage was first spotted on October 1 during an aerial search following a hiker's discovery of Fossett's pilot licence and other identification cards.

Forensic teams are carrying out a search of the area for traces of DNA.

Fossett, 63, a record-breaking pilot and balloonist, had been missing since September 3, 2007, when he took off from a private airstrip 90 miles away in neighbouring Nevada. (ANI)