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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Nuclear sub joins Air France hunt | Nuclear sub joins Air France hunt |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A French nuclear submarine has arrived at the scene of the Air France crash in the ocean off Brazil to start searching for the flight's data recorders. | A French nuclear submarine has arrived at the scene of the Air France crash in the ocean off Brazil to start searching for the flight's data recorders. |
| The "black boxes", which emit a locator signal for about 30 days, could be up to 6,100m (20,000ft) deep, on the bed of the Atlantic. | The "black boxes", which emit a locator signal for about 30 days, could be up to 6,100m (20,000ft) deep, on the bed of the Atlantic. |
| They could provide vital clues as to why the Airbus A330 crashed on 1 June. | They could provide vital clues as to why the Airbus A330 crashed on 1 June. |
| Brazilian air and sea searches have now recovered 41 bodies from the plane, which had 228 people on board. | Brazilian air and sea searches have now recovered 41 bodies from the plane, which had 228 people on board. |
| The submarine, and Brazilian naval and air forces, have a large and remote area of ocean to search. See a map of the plane's route | The submarine, and Brazilian naval and air forces, have a large and remote area of ocean to search. See a map of the plane's route |
| Debris from the plane, which was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, has been found some 1,000km (600 miles) north-east of the Fernando de Noronha islands. The islands are about 320km off the north-eastern coast of Brazil. | Debris from the plane, which was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, has been found some 1,000km (600 miles) north-east of the Fernando de Noronha islands. The islands are about 320km off the north-eastern coast of Brazil. |
| 'Very complicated' | 'Very complicated' |
| French military spokesman Captain Christophe Prazuck said the submarine - the Emeraude - should be able to cover an area of 26 sq km each day. It has advanced sonar equipment on board. | French military spokesman Captain Christophe Prazuck said the submarine - the Emeraude - should be able to cover an area of 26 sq km each day. It has advanced sonar equipment on board. |
| "There are big uncertainties about the accident site, the ocean floor is rugged... so it's going to be very difficult," he told French radio. | "There are big uncertainties about the accident site, the ocean floor is rugged... so it's going to be very difficult," he told French radio. |
| "It's going to be very complicated and we're going to need a lot of luck" to find the plane's data recorders. | "It's going to be very complicated and we're going to need a lot of luck" to find the plane's data recorders. |
| href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8092354.stm">In pictures: Victims back in Brazil | |
| The US is also joining the search, sending two sophisticated listening devices, which will be deployed on two large vessels hired by France. They will be towed in a grid pattern across the search area. | The US is also joining the search, sending two sophisticated listening devices, which will be deployed on two large vessels hired by France. They will be towed in a grid pattern across the search area. |
| If the aircraft's two black boxes are located, a mini-submarine called the Nautile will be sent down to retrieve them. The vessel, which has a crew of three and is about 8m long, is the same one which explored the wreck of the Titanic. | If the aircraft's two black boxes are located, a mini-submarine called the Nautile will be sent down to retrieve them. The vessel, which has a crew of three and is about 8m long, is the same one which explored the wreck of the Titanic. |
| On Monday, a search team recovered a large tail section. The Brazilian military released photographs of divers securing the tail fin, which was painted in Air France colours. | On Monday, a search team recovered a large tail section. The Brazilian military released photographs of divers securing the tail fin, which was painted in Air France colours. |
| Officials said the first bodies had been taken by helicopter to the Fernando de Noronha islands. | Officials said the first bodies had been taken by helicopter to the Fernando de Noronha islands. |
| SEARCH FOR FLIGHT AF 447 1 June: Contact lost with plane over mid-Atlantic2 June: First debris spotted from the air includes an airline seat. Brazilian defence minister says debris is from missing plane3 June: More debris spotted, including a 7m-wide chunk of metal. Fuel slick seen on surface4 June: Recovered buoys and pallet said to be from plane. Officials later retract statement6 June: First two bodies, plus suitcase and backpack found, along with seat from the plane7 June: Fourteen additional bodies recovered, taking total to 168 June: Large tail fin section found href="/2/hi/americas/8077304.stm">Timeline of Flight AF 447 href="/2/hi/in_depth/2008892.stm">Air disasters timeline href="/2/hi/europe/8078203.stm">Mystery of Air France flight href="/2/hi/americas/8082025.stm">Challenge of deep-sea debris | |
| They were due to be moved to the Brazilian city of Recife on Wednesday, where a temporary mortuary has been established. | They were due to be moved to the Brazilian city of Recife on Wednesday, where a temporary mortuary has been established. |
| Investigators hope they can use dental records and DNA tests to confirm identities. DNA samples have been taken from relatives of the plane's passengers to help with the process. | Investigators hope they can use dental records and DNA tests to confirm identities. DNA samples have been taken from relatives of the plane's passengers to help with the process. |
| Investigators have so far focused on whether the plane's speed sensors stopped working properly just before it crashed in turbulent weather. | Investigators have so far focused on whether the plane's speed sensors stopped working properly just before it crashed in turbulent weather. |
| French officials have said the sensors could have iced over, meaning pilots may have flown into a storm without knowing their speed. | French officials have said the sensors could have iced over, meaning pilots may have flown into a storm without knowing their speed. |
| Air France has said it is stepping up the process of replacing speed monitors on board its Airbus planes. | Air France has said it is stepping up the process of replacing speed monitors on board its Airbus planes. |
| The company said it first noticed problems with speed monitors a year ago and began replacing them a few weeks before the accident. | The company said it first noticed problems with speed monitors a year ago and began replacing them a few weeks before the accident. |
| But investigators have yet to confirm what role faulty sensors might have played in the crash. | But investigators have yet to confirm what role faulty sensors might have played in the crash. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |