Air France plane missing off Brazil

[flightlevel350]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8076848.stm

An Air France plane carrying 228 people from Brazil has disappeared from radar screens over the Atlantic Ocean, according to reports.

http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/monde/ameriq...s-radars-.html

[quebecair727]

http://www.lemonde.fr/ameriques/arti...0678_3222.html

[AC974]

Missing aircraft is reported to be F-GZCP c/n/ MSN 660

First flight Feb.25 , 2005

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-France/Airbus-A330-203/1054322/L/

[YULspotter]

For a plane to disappear off radar with no radio contact including a mayday, something catastrophic must have occurred. I have a feeling this will not turn out well. I just hope it's not an act of terrorism.

The aircraft in question (F-GZCP) was delivered to AF on April 18th, 2005 so not a very old airframe at all.

[AC974]

Originally Posted by YULspotter

For a plane to disappear off radar with no radio contact including a mayday, something catastrophic must have occurred. I have a feeling this will not turn out well.

Agreed . I'm afraid we must face the fact that this aircraft has gone down.

Air France regrets to announce that it is without news from flight AF 447,” a spokesman said in Paris. The aircraft would have run out of fuel by the time of the announcement this morning.

[YULspotter]

Looks like electronical problems may be at the heart of the problem now...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americ...zil/index.html

The Airbus A330-200 sent automatic messages signaling equipment failure as it hit turbulence early in its 11-hour flight from Rio de Janeiro to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, Air France CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon told a news conference.

[AC974]

Air France said the last communication from the aircraft came nearly three hours into the flight when the on-board computers sent an automatic transmission reporting electrical malfunction at 10:14 p.m. Sunday.
That was soon after the aircraft's crew had reported an area of turbulence near a line of thunderstorms.

Source : Associated Press

[CGPGC]

BBC has come out with a timeline

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8077304.stm

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and crewmembers.

[CdnAvSpotter]

Update from Air France: Vol Air France 447 Rio de Janeiro - Paris-Charles de Gaulle

Brief translation


Air France regrets to announce the loss of flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro - Paris-Charles de Gaulle, expected arrival this morning at 11.10 am local, as just announced to the press by the Director General of Air France, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.

AF447 Aircraft F-GZCP A330-200 departed Rio de Janeiro on the 31st May 2009 at 19:03 Local time (00:03 paris time).


The aircraft went through a thunderstorm with strong turbulence at 2 am (universal time) or 4:00 GMT. An automated message was received at 2:14 (4:14 GMT) indicating a failure of electrical system in a remote area off the coast.


All civilian air traffic control Brazilian, African, Spanish and french have tried in vain to make contact with the flight AF447. The french military air traffic control tried to detect the aircraft without success.

216 pax onboard, 126 men, 82 women, 7 infants and babies.

12 crew (3 pilots, 9 cabin crew)

Captain 11,000 hrs TT (1700 on Airbus A330/A340)
Copilot 3,000 hrs TT (800 on Airbus A330/A340)
Copilot 6,600 hrs TT (2600 on Airbus A330/A340)

Aircraft equipped with engines General Electric CF6-80E.


Airframe had 18,870 flight hours since commencing service on 18 April 2005.

Last visit maintenance hangar dated 16 April 2009.

[YoYUL]

Very sad news.

Let's hope the aircraft's wreckage is located soon.