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'Sadness' of plane boy's parents | |
(8 minutes later) | |
A woman from south Wales has spoken of her "deep sadness" as she confirmed her son was among the passengers on the missing Air France flight from Brazil. | |
Jane Bjoroy from Penarth, confirmed that her 11-year-old son, Alexander, was returning to school after spending half-term with his parents in Brazil. | |
The plane was flying to Paris with 228 people on board when it disappeared. | |
Alexander was being chaperoned on the flight and was to be met by relatives in Paris and continue on to Bristol. | |
It is believed the plane, which took off from Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, disappeared after encountering a storm over the Atlantic. | |
Air France officials say it encountered turbulence about four hours into the flight. It then sent an automatic signal indicating an electrical fault. They suspect the Airbus suffered a short circuit caused by a lightning strike. | |
There were tributes from Alexander's school in Bristol | There were tributes from Alexander's school in Bristol |
Some wreckage from the flight including aircraft seats and other debris has been located by Brazilian air force planes floating in the Atlantic about 350 miles off the coast of Brazil. | Some wreckage from the flight including aircraft seats and other debris has been located by Brazilian air force planes floating in the Atlantic about 350 miles off the coast of Brazil. |
As Mrs Bjoroy and her Norwegian-born husband Robin, travelled to the UK, a statement from them read: "Robin and Jane Bjoroy confirm with deep sadness that our son Alexander who was approaching his 12th birthday was amongst the passengers on board Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on Sunday 1st June. | |
"He was returning to boarding school in the United Kingdom after spending half term with his parents and sister in Rio. | |
"Naturally we are deeply upset about the loss of our son under such tragic circumstances. Our thoughts are also with the families and friends of all those who were on board." | |
Earlier, Alexander's grandfather William Dougill, 80, who lives in Penarth, said: "He is my only grandson. We are all going to miss him. | |
Alexander was a well-liked and respected boarder who will be sorely missed by his fellow pupils and staff Headmaster John Milne | Alexander was a well-liked and respected boarder who will be sorely missed by his fellow pupils and staff Headmaster John Milne |
Mr Dougill said Alexander was due to call them by mobile phone after touching down at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and again at Heathrow. The youngster kept in regular touch with his parents during term-time via emails and mobile phone, he added. | |
Alexander was a boarder at Clifton College Preparatory School in Bristol, where governor Alison Streatfeild-James described news of the missing plane as an "utter tragedy". | |
She said: "It's a sombre mood at the school today. All the children were informed in assembly and prayers were said. It's a terrible piece of news to break. Children are intelligent, they understand what has happened. | She said: "It's a sombre mood at the school today. All the children were informed in assembly and prayers were said. It's a terrible piece of news to break. Children are intelligent, they understand what has happened. |
"All we can do is offer them support in an appropriate way." | "All we can do is offer them support in an appropriate way." |
Headmaster John Milne said: "Alexander was a well-liked and respected boarder who will be sorely missed by his fellow pupils and staff." | Headmaster John Milne said: "Alexander was a well-liked and respected boarder who will be sorely missed by his fellow pupils and staff." |