The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-06-02

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Search on Missing Air France Flight Continues

Search on missing Air France Flight 447 continues. There was no word from the pilots, no sign that anything was wrong with Air France Flight 447 as it streaked over the dark waters of the Atlantic on its way to Paris. And then it was gone. It was carrying 216 passengers of 32 nationalities, including seven children and one baby, Air France said. Sixty-one were French citizens, 58 Brazilian and 26 German. Twelve crew members were also on board. The Air France plane flew into turbulent weather four hours after taking off from Rio and 15 minutes later sent an automatic message reporting electrical faults, the airline said. The company said a lightning strike could be to blame. They also said the plane could have suffered an electrical failure.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said there was little chance of finding any survivors. France and Brazil sent military aircraft and ships to try to locate wreckage between Brazil and West Africa. Brazilian carrier TAM said the crew of one of its planes saw "bright spots" on the surface of the ocean. But Brazil's air force said a merchant ship in the area found no signs of burning debris from the Air France jet. France had sent one jet from Senegal, two from France, as well as two naval vessels. The United States agreed to assist in locating the crash site using satellite data.

Source: Reuters

Le Monde: Vol Rio-Paris : les recherches s'intensifient, la zone de la catastrophe a été localisée BBC: Atlantic searched for lost plane

News item: 23012

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