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Atlantic searched for lost plane Atlantic searched for lost plane
(about 2 hours later)
France and Brazil are searching waters deep in the Atlantic for an airliner carrying 228 passengers and crew which disappeared in a storm on Monday. Rescuers are searching waters deep in the Atlantic for an airliner carrying 228 passengers and crew which disappeared in a storm on Monday.
France believes there is little hope of finding survivors from among those aboard the Air France Airbus, which was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. The search, involving ships and planes from many nations, was part-suspended overnight, but aircraft with monitoring equipment continued to scour the sea.
An automatic report of a short circuit was the last communication it put out before vanishing over the ocean. The Air France Airbus was heading from Brazil to Paris when it disappeared.
French officials believe it may been disabled by a storm. France believes there is little hope of finding survivors from among the 228 passengers and crew aboard the flight.
See a map of the plane's route See a map of the plane's route
Staff at Charles de Gaulle and Rio's Jobim international airport have been trying to help relatives and friends of the 228 missing people. Vessels from France, Spain, Senegal and Brazil are involved in the search, while the United States is said to be offering help with satellite reconnaissance.
Plane crews have narrowed their search to a zone of a few dozen nautical miles half-way between Brazil and west Africa, said Pierre-Henry Gourgeon, chief executive of Air France, late on Monday.
Their work may be aided by the Airbus's Argos beacons, which will emit signals for several days, he added.
An automatic report of a short circuit was the last communication received from the plane before it vanished over the ocean.
They [the search teams] are hoping they can find debris, pieces, lifejackets that eventually float Maria Celina Rodrigues Brazilian consul in Paris Passenger nationalities revealed In pictures: Waiting for news Mystery of Air France flightThey [the search teams] are hoping they can find debris, pieces, lifejackets that eventually float Maria Celina Rodrigues Brazilian consul in Paris Passenger nationalities revealed In pictures: Waiting for news Mystery of Air France flight
French officials believe it may been disabled by a storm. French and US sources have ruled out terrorism as the cause of the plane's loss.
Most of the missing people are Brazilian or French but they include a total of 32 nationalities. Five Britons and three Irish citizens are among them.Most of the missing people are Brazilian or French but they include a total of 32 nationalities. Five Britons and three Irish citizens are among them.
French President Nicholas Sarkozy said he had told friends and relatives waiting at the Charles de Gaulle "the truth" - that the chances of finding anyone alive were "very small".
If no survivors are found, it will be the worst loss of life involving an Air France plane in the firm's 75-year history.If no survivors are found, it will be the worst loss of life involving an Air France plane in the firm's 75-year history.
French and US sources have ruled out terrorism as the cause of the plane's loss.
US spy technologyUS spy technology
Plane crews have narrowed their search to a zone of a few dozen nautical miles half-way between Brazil and west Africa, said Pierre-Henry Gourgeon, chief executive of Air France.
TIMELINE Flight AF 447 left Rio at 1900 local time (2200 GMT) on SundayAirbus A330-200 carrying 216 passengers and at least 12 crewContact lost 0130 GMTMissed scheduled landing at 1110 local time (0910 GMT) in Paris Timeline of Flight AF 447 Air disasters timeline
Their work may be aided by the Airbus's Argos beacons, which will emit signals for several days, he added.
A French reconnaissance plane based in Dakar, Senegal, was due to reach the suspected crash area on Monday evening.A French reconnaissance plane based in Dakar, Senegal, was due to reach the suspected crash area on Monday evening.
It was to be followed by two other French planes based in Dakar, and a naval vessel currently cruising in the Gulf of Guinea, several days' sailing away. Spain and Senegal also despatched planes to help in the search. TIMELINE Flight AF 447 left Rio at 1900 local time (2200 GMT) on Sunday Airbus A330-200 carrying 216 passengers and at least 12 crew Contact lost 0130 GMT Missed scheduled landing at 1110 local time (0910 GMT) in Paris class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8077304.stm">Timeline of Flight AF 447 class="" href="/1/hi/world/2008892.stm">Air disasters timeline
French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that his government was approaching Washington for help. It was to be followed by two other French planes based in Dakar, and a naval vessel currently cruising in the Gulf of Guinea, several days' sailing away.
An unnamed aide to French Defence Minister Herve Morin told AFP news agency earlier that France had contacted the Pentagon to "obtain access to its satellite observation capability and listening stations which might just be able to supply us with some clues". Spain and Senegal have also sent planes to help in the search.
Mr Sarkozy confirmed that his government was approaching Washington for help, following reports that France had asked the US for access to satellites and listening stations.
Brazil has sent out seven air force planes and three naval ships to help in the search, far off the north-eastern Brazilian coast.Brazil has sent out seven air force planes and three naval ships to help in the search, far off the north-eastern Brazilian coast.
"We want to try to reach the last point where the aircraft made contact, which is about 1,200km [745 miles] north-east of Natal [in Brazil]," said Brazilian air force spokesman Col Jorge Amaral. Air force spokesman Col Jorge Amaral said earlier they were trying to reach the point from where the aircraft had last made contact, about 1,200km (745 miles) north-east of Natal.
An unnamed air force spokesman told AFP news agency the search was focusing on a remote area close to where the last radio contact with the plane was recorded. But Maria Celina Rodrigues, the Brazilian consul in Paris, said the depth of the ocean would make it difficult for searchers.
"This zone is on the line between the jurisdiction of Brazilian air control and that of Dakar in Senegal," he added. "They are hoping they can find debris, pieces, lifejackets that eventually float, but that takes some time," she told the Associated Press.
Maria Celina Rodrigues, the Brazilian consul in Paris, accepted that the depth of the ocean would make it difficult for searchers. The Brazilian authorities have also said they are investigating a possible sighting of wreckage in the area, reported Reuters news agency.
"They are hoping they can find debris, pieces, lifejackets that eventually float, but that takes some time and they are coordinating with weather services and with officials overseeing maritime currents to try and narrow down the area," she told the Associated Press. The crew of a TAM Linhas Aereas flight travelling over the area had reported seeing "bright spots" in the ocean about 1,300 km (800 miles) from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago off Brazil's north-eastern coast.
'She was on the plane' 'Experienced' pilot
The plane's automatic report was generated at 0214 GMT on Monday, about four hours after Flight AF 447 left Rio de Janeiro, and as it was heading through turbulence towards the west African coast.The plane's automatic report was generated at 0214 GMT on Monday, about four hours after Flight AF 447 left Rio de Janeiro, and as it was heading through turbulence towards the west African coast.
Missing man Arthur Coakley’s wife, Patricia, and his business partner Ken PearceMissing man Arthur Coakley’s wife, Patricia, and his business partner Ken Pearce
"A succession of a dozen technical messages" showed that "several electrical systems had broken down" which caused a "totally unprecedented situation in the plane", said Mr Gourgeon."A succession of a dozen technical messages" showed that "several electrical systems had broken down" which caused a "totally unprecedented situation in the plane", said Mr Gourgeon.
"It is probable that it was shortly after these messages that the impact in the Atlantic came," he told reporters at Charles de Gaulle airport, where the airliner had been due to land."It is probable that it was shortly after these messages that the impact in the Atlantic came," he told reporters at Charles de Gaulle airport, where the airliner had been due to land.
Flight AF 447 was flying at an altitude of 10,670m (35,000ft) shortly before it went missing.Flight AF 447 was flying at an altitude of 10,670m (35,000ft) shortly before it went missing.
A meteorologist who spoke to the Associated Press said tropical thunderstorms in the Atlantic could tower up to 15,240m (50,000ft).A meteorologist who spoke to the Associated Press said tropical thunderstorms in the Atlantic could tower up to 15,240m (50,000ft).
"At the altitude it was flying, it's possible that the Air France plane flew directly into the most charged part of the storm - the top," said Henry Margusity, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather.com."At the altitude it was flying, it's possible that the Air France plane flew directly into the most charged part of the storm - the top," said Henry Margusity, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather.com.
French officials have stressed that the plane's captain was very experienced, clocking up more than 11,000 hours of flight.French officials have stressed that the plane's captain was very experienced, clocking up more than 11,000 hours of flight.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy personally met relatives and friends of passengers at a crisis centre set up in Charles de Gaulle airport. Crisis centres have been set up at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and Rio's Tom Jobim international airport.
"I told them the truth," he said afterwards. "The prospects of finding survivors are very small."
At Rio's Jobim airport, shocked relatives were ushered into a closed lounge, away from the media and into the care of psychologists and doctors.
One woman, Vasti Ester van Sluijs, told AFP she had jumped into a taxi as soon as she heard news that the plane was missing.
"My daughter Adriana Francesca was on the plane," she said.
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