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| Brazil mourns air crash victims | Brazil mourns air crash victims |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has declared three days of national mourning after the crash of a passenger plane with 155 people aboard. | Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has declared three days of national mourning after the crash of a passenger plane with 155 people aboard. |
| There is no sign of survivors at the crash site in the Amazonian state of Mato Grosso, the air force said. | There is no sign of survivors at the crash site in the Amazonian state of Mato Grosso, the air force said. |
| Soldiers dropped into the remote area have been clearing dense vegetation so that helicopters can land. | Soldiers dropped into the remote area have been clearing dense vegetation so that helicopters can land. |
| The Boeing 737 was flying from Manaus to the capital, Brasilia, when it vanished from radar screens on Friday. | The Boeing 737 was flying from Manaus to the capital, Brasilia, when it vanished from radar screens on Friday. |
| Aviation officials are investigating the possibility that it collided with a smaller plane. | Aviation officials are investigating the possibility that it collided with a smaller plane. |
| Disaster record | Disaster record |
| If no survivors are found, Friday's crash would become the worst air disaster in Brazil's history. | If no survivors are found, Friday's crash would become the worst air disaster in Brazil's history. |
| The plane was operated by the budget airline Gol. | The plane was operated by the budget airline Gol. |
| In Pictures: crash aftermath "It would be very difficult for anyone to survive such a crash," Jose Carlos Pereira, president of the Brazilian airport authority, told journalists. | In Pictures: crash aftermath "It would be very difficult for anyone to survive such a crash," Jose Carlos Pereira, president of the Brazilian airport authority, told journalists. |
| "Our experience shows that when one cannot find the fuselage relatively intact and when the wreckage is concentrated in a relatively small area, the chances of finding any survivors are practically non-existent," he added. | "Our experience shows that when one cannot find the fuselage relatively intact and when the wreckage is concentrated in a relatively small area, the chances of finding any survivors are practically non-existent," he added. |
| However, authorities say they have not given up hope and will continue a search of the site at first light on Sunday. | |
| A Gol airline statement state said the wreckage had been found 30 km (19 miles) north of the town of Peixote Azevedo. | A Gol airline statement state said the wreckage had been found 30 km (19 miles) north of the town of Peixote Azevedo. |
| It took rescuers more than 20 hours to reach the site. | |
| Dozens of anxious relatives and friends of those missing have gathered at airports in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, seeking information about their loved ones. | Dozens of anxious relatives and friends of those missing have gathered at airports in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, seeking information about their loved ones. |
| Initial reports said the airliner collided with a smaller private plane, but aviation officials now say this cannot be confirmed. | Initial reports said the airliner collided with a smaller private plane, but aviation officials now say this cannot be confirmed. |
| It had been scheduled to fly on to Rio de Janeiro from Brasilia. | It had been scheduled to fly on to Rio de Janeiro from Brasilia. |
| Gol has expanded rapidly in recent years to become Brazil's number two carrier. | Gol has expanded rapidly in recent years to become Brazil's number two carrier. |
| This is the first major crash involving Gol, which was founded in 2001. | This is the first major crash involving Gol, which was founded in 2001. |
| Gol says the plane involved was new, having come into service this month. | Gol says the plane involved was new, having come into service this month. |