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Lost jet data 'may not be found' Lost jet data 'may not be found'
(about 4 hours later)
French aviation officials have said they may never find the flight data recorders of an Air France jet that went missing over the Atlantic.French aviation officials have said they may never find the flight data recorders of an Air France jet that went missing over the Atlantic.
The officials promised a thorough investigation but said the circumstances were very difficult.The officials promised a thorough investigation but said the circumstances were very difficult.
Flight AF 447 was heading from Rio to Paris with 228 people on board on Monday when it was lost over the ocean.Flight AF 447 was heading from Rio to Paris with 228 people on board on Monday when it was lost over the ocean.
Debris has been spotted 650km (400 miles) off Brazil's coast and navy vessels are converging on the area. A memorial service has been held at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the plane's route Mourners heard a message of condolence from the Pope.
Brazilian and French officials said there was no doubt the debris was from the missing plane. Debris found
A Brazilian air force plane found more, larger items of debris on Wednesday about 90km (55 miles) south of where other wreckage was spotted, a spokesman said. As the search continued on Wednesday, French and Brazilian navy ships were converging on an area 650km (400 miles) off Brazil's coast where debris was spotted on Tuesday. name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the plane's route
A Brazilian air force plane found more, larger items of debris on Wednesday about 90km (55 miles) south of the other wreckage, a spokesman said.
"Several objects spread over a 5km (three-mile) radius, including an apparently metallic object 7m (23ft) in diameter and a fuel slick" were discovered, Col Jorge Amaral said."Several objects spread over a 5km (three-mile) radius, including an apparently metallic object 7m (23ft) in diameter and a fuel slick" were discovered, Col Jorge Amaral said.
'Worst catastrophe'
The French civil aviation officials, at a news conference in Paris, said they hoped there would be an initial report by the end of June.The French civil aviation officials, at a news conference in Paris, said they hoped there would be an initial report by the end of June.
TIMELINE Flight AF 447 left Rio at 1900 local time (2200 GMT) on SundayContact lost 0130 GMTMissed scheduled landing at 1110 local time (0910 GMT) in Paris Timeline of Flight AF 447 Air disasters timeline Mystery of Air France flight TIMELINE Flight AF 447 left Rio at 1900 local time (2200 GMT) on SundayContact lost 0130 GMTMissed scheduled landing at 1110 local time (0910 GMT) in Paris Timeline of Flight AF 447 Air disasters timeline Mystery of Air France flight class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8082025.stm">Challenge of deep-sea debris
The officials, headed by Paul-Louis Arslanian, chief of the French civil aviation ministry's bureau of investigation, said there had appeared to be no problems with the flight before take-off.The officials, headed by Paul-Louis Arslanian, chief of the French civil aviation ministry's bureau of investigation, said there had appeared to be no problems with the flight before take-off.
Mr Arslanian said there would be no speculation and that it was "essential we check and verify everything".Mr Arslanian said there would be no speculation and that it was "essential we check and verify everything".
He said: "This catastrophe - which is the worst that our country has witnessed in terms of aviation, took place in a very difficult region... so the investigation will not be easy... but we are not giving up."He said: "This catastrophe - which is the worst that our country has witnessed in terms of aviation, took place in a very difficult region... so the investigation will not be easy... but we are not giving up."
Mr Arslanian said the exact time of the accident was not known, nor whether the chief pilot was at the controls.Mr Arslanian said the exact time of the accident was not known, nor whether the chief pilot was at the controls.
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Aeronautical engineer Dr Guy Gratton on the search for flight recordersAeronautical engineer Dr Guy Gratton on the search for flight recorders
The first Brazilian naval vessel is due to arrive in the zone where the debris was found on Wednesday morning. The navy says the weather in the area is poor. One French and four Brazilian navy ships are on their way to the area but the Brazilian navy says weather conditions are poor. The flotilla includes divers and a French mini-submarine that can explore to a depth of 6,000m (19,680ft).
French government minister Jean-Louis Borloo said the plane's cockpit voice and data recorders were believed to be at a depth of up to 3,700m (12,100ft), within reach of the submarine, but warned they would be hard to find.
"We have never recovered black boxes that deep before. The sea currents are powerful that far down," he said.
Three merchant vessels are already in the area after being diverted to help with the operation.Three merchant vessels are already in the area after being diverted to help with the operation.
Without [the recorders] it will be very difficult to reach established fact, but we can reach a possible explanation Paul-Louis Arslanian,French investigation head Grief and fear in Brazil Did storm down missing plane? Family's tribute to lost sonWithout [the recorders] it will be very difficult to reach established fact, but we can reach a possible explanation Paul-Louis Arslanian,French investigation head Grief and fear in Brazil Did storm down missing plane? Family's tribute to lost son
France is sending a research ship equipped with two mini-submarines. The recorders can send signals for about 30 days.
The plane's cockpit voice and data recorders, which will give the clearest information about what happened, can send signals for about 30 days. Mr Arslanian said he was "not optimistic" of finding the boxes because of the undersea terrain.
But officials say they may be at a depth of up to 3,000m (9,800ft).
Mr Arslanian said he was "not optimistic" of finding the boxes because of the terrain under the sea.
He said: "Without them it will be very difficult to reach established fact, but we can reach a possible explanation."He said: "Without them it will be very difficult to reach established fact, but we can reach a possible explanation."
Mr Arslanian added: "Until the last minute we all hoped it was just normal loss of contact - it's very difficult to accept such a disaster." Three days of national mourning have been declared in Brazil.
France is to hold religious ceremonies to remember the missing, while three days of national mourning have been declared in Brazil.
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.
Bomb scare
Meanwhile, Air France said on Wednesday it had received an anonymous phone call warning that a bomb was on a flight leaving Buenos Aires on 27 May, four days before the ill-fated Rio-Paris flight.
A spokesman said no bomb was found and the aircraft left 90 minutes late. He added that such scares were relatively common.
Air France has not ruled out terrorism as a cause of the crash but says it does not have any evidence of it.
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