Air France jet goes missing

[bawan 0]

AN Air France jet which vanished over the Atlantic may have had Brits on board, the PM said today.

 

The plane — feared to have been struck by lightning — was carrying 228 people when it disappeared from radar just minutes after reporting an electrical short-circuit following turbulence.

 

A desperate search is being carried out off the coast of Brazil.

 

Gordon Brown said today: "I do fear that there may be some British citizens on board. We are doing all the checking that is necessary."

 

The Foreign Office said they were "urgently investigating" the incident.

 

Today Air France chief executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon said he feared the worst.

 

The airliner boss added: "We are probably facing an air catastrophe."

 

Passengers on the flight included one baby and seven children.

 

Flight AF 447 left Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last night at 7pm local time (11pm BST) and was expected in Paris at 11.15am (10.15am BST).

 

An official with the French government's transport agency said contact with the Airbus 330-200 was lost at 3.20am BST, just over four hours into the flight.

 

A message reporting the electrical fault was sent at 3.15am BST, it was said.

 

But according to reports there was no mayday sent before the plane vanished from radar.

 

An Air France spokesmen said the Airbus airliner "was probably struck by lightning".

 

Tragic

 

Air France said it received a message at 3.00am BST saying the jet had "crossed through a thunderous zone with strong turbulence".

 

It added that an automatic message was then received "signalling electrical circuit malfunction".

 

A UK airline safety expert said: "It's almost unthinkable for a western European airline just to go missing like this."

 

A senior French minister said that had the plane managed to stay airborne it would have run out of fuel by now.

 

Jean-Louis Borloo, the second most senior figure in the country's cabinet, said: "By now it would be beyond its kerosene reserves so unfortunately we must envisage the most tragic scenario."

 

He told France Info radio that the plane had disappeared from military as well as civilian radar screens.

 

He also insisted the plane had not been hijacked.

 

An Air France official earlier said: "We are very worried. The plane disappeared from the screens several hours ago.

 

"It could be a transponder problem, but this kind of fault is very rare and the plane did not land when expected."

 

The plane disappeared about 186 miles (300km) north east of the coastal Brazilian city of Natal.

 

The Brazilian Air Force said it was currently searching near the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha.

 

A spokesman said the search and rescue mission was mounted after the jet failed to make regular radio contact.

 

French president Nicolas Sarkozy was informed of the incident and expressed his deep concern.

 

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He has demanded that the relevant authorities do everything they can to find the plane and "shed light on the circumstances surrounding its disappearance as rapidly as possible".

 

Air France spokeswoman Brigitte Barrand added: "Air France regrets to announce that it is without news from Air France flight 447 flying from Rio to Paris.

 

"Air France shares the emotion and worry of the families concerned."

 

She said the airline has installed an information centre at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport for the families of those aboard, including 216 passengers and 12 crew.

Edited June 1, 2009 by bawan

[Jimbo 175]

[Sonatine 11542]

Been a couple of plane crashes in Brazil in recent years

[ChezGiven 0]

Flying back across atlantic with them on weds.

[Happy Face 29]

Been a couple of plane crashes in Brazil in recent years

 

The Bermuda triangle must be on the move.

[NJS 4411]

I know a lad who's an engineer for BA and they get all the reports on air crash causes - his consistent reply to what happened is always "shit maintenance" which isn't exactly comforting. He only ever flies BA.

[Rob W 0]

BA -

 

who wrecked a 777 at Heathrow in January last year?

 

Your mate always flies BA because he gets flights for nowt man..........................

[Craig 6700]

BA -

 

who wrecked a 777 at Heathrow in January last year?

 

Your mate always flies BA because he gets flights for nowt man..........................

 

Rob knows... he was flying...

[Toonraider 0]

Now this is why I dont fly

[Renton 22000]

Now this is why I dont fly

 

Do you never hear about car crashes in the news? Why do you drive?

 

Got to admit, plane crashes like this scare me a bit. Most crashes occur on take off or landing and they can recover the wreck to find the cause (and fix it). It's going to be very difficult to solve this one, they had an expert on Radio 4 this morning who said it was unlikely they could even recover the black box from water so deep.

[Toonraider 0]

Now this is why I dont fly

 

Do you never hear about car crashes in the news? Why do you drive?

 

Got to admit, plane crashes like this scare me a bit. Most crashes occur on take off or landing and they can recover the wreck to find the cause (and fix it). It's going to be very difficult to solve this one, they had an expert on Radio 4 this morning who said it was unlikely they could even recover the black box from water so deep.

 

Yes of course I worry about car crashes too, expecially the amount of miles we do in a year due to travelling to race meetings. I dont drive actually though I used to, even used to ride mopeds and they're deathtraps! I just feel there are so many twats on the roads that I worry too much.

 

In a way I wish I could bring myself to fly as I could fly up to Newcastle from Exeter so easily! But I just cant get over my fears, so now I dont let it bother me.

[Renton 22000]

Now this is why I dont fly

 

Do you never hear about car crashes in the news? Why do you drive?

 

Got to admit, plane crashes like this scare me a bit. Most crashes occur on take off or landing and they can recover the wreck to find the cause (and fix it). It's going to be very difficult to solve this one, they had an expert on Radio 4 this morning who said it was unlikely they could even recover the black box from water so deep.

 

Yes of course I worry about car crashes too, expecially the amount of miles we do in a year due to travelling to race meetings. I dont drive actually though I used to, even used to ride mopeds and they're deathtraps! I just feel there are so many twats on the roads that I worry too much.

 

In a way I wish I could bring myself to fly as I could fly up to Newcastle from Exeter so easily! But I just cant get over my fears, so now I dont let it bother me.

 

I think you can do special courses at Stansted to help your nerves but that's quite a long drive for you.

 

Fear of flying is an odd one like. I had a bad experience early on and have been scared ever since despite flying quite a bit (nowt compared to Alex mind). Despite all the stats that favour air travel as the second safest mode of transport (after trains), I simply can't rationalise this, especially on take off. Having thought about it a lot, I reckon I'm simply afraid of dying rather than flying in itself, it's just the experience brings it home.

 

Having said that, my life would be a lot worse without flying so I just get on with it.

[The Fish 10963]

Now this is why I dont fly

 

Do you never hear about car crashes in the news? Why do you drive?

 

Got to admit, plane crashes like this scare me a bit. Most crashes occur on take off or landing and they can recover the wreck to find the cause (and fix it). It's going to be very difficult to solve this one, they had an expert on Radio 4 this morning who said it was unlikely they could even recover the black box from water so deep.

 

Yes of course I worry about car crashes too, expecially the amount of miles we do in a year due to travelling to race meetings. I dont drive actually though I used to, even used to ride mopeds and they're deathtraps! I just feel there are so many twats on the roads that I worry too much.

 

In a way I wish I could bring myself to fly as I could fly up to Newcastle from Exeter so easily! But I just cant get over my fears, so now I dont let it bother me.

 

Just don't read the Express or the Mail, you'd never leave your sofa!

[Toonraider 0]

Now this is why I dont fly

 

Do you never hear about car crashes in the news? Why do you drive?

 

Got to admit, plane crashes like this scare me a bit. Most crashes occur on take off or landing and they can recover the wreck to find the cause (and fix it). It's going to be very difficult to solve this one, they had an expert on Radio 4 this morning who said it was unlikely they could even recover the black box from water so deep.

 

Yes of course I worry about car crashes too, expecially the amount of miles we do in a year due to travelling to race meetings. I dont drive actually though I used to, even used to ride mopeds and they're deathtraps! I just feel there are so many twats on the roads that I worry too much.

 

In a way I wish I could bring myself to fly as I could fly up to Newcastle from Exeter so easily! But I just cant get over my fears, so now I dont let it bother me.

 

I think you can do special courses at Stansted to help your nerves but that's quite a long drive for you.

 

Fear of flying is an odd one like. I had a bad experience early on and have been scared ever since despite flying quite a bit (nowt compared to Alex mind). Despite all the stats that favour air travel as the second safest mode of transport (after trains), I simply can't rationalise this, especially on take off. Having thought about it a lot, I reckon I'm simply afraid of dying rather than flying in itself, it's just the experience brings it home.

 

Having said that, my life would be a lot worse without flying so I just get on with it.

 

Thats me exactly!

Like you, I probably have other fears not specifically a fear of flying. A fear of heights, a fear of not being in control (once you're on that plane you have to sit down and grin and bear it) A fear of being shut in and having a panic attack and making a complete arse of yourself. A fear of dying...not just dying but the way in which you'll more than likely die! with time to spare and think as you hurtle towards the ground with the engines on fire 'shudders'

[Meenzer 15716]

Having thought about it a lot, I reckon I'm simply afraid of dying rather than flying in itself, it's just the experience brings it home.

Aye, same here. And specifically dying in a fairly drawn-out manner and without any influence over the situation. I'm a control freak and I want to have the chance to go out kicking and screaming, dammit.

 

Funnily enough, watching stuff like Air Crash Investigation on the Discovery channel has helped - it brings home the fact that there generally has to be a collection of stupendously random circumstances for anything to go fatally wrong with a flight, so once you accept the need to fly in the first place, you might as well just grin and bear it.

 

Either that or neck half a bottle of something from the duty free beforehand. It won't help your response times in a crash situation, but at least it'll numb the pain.

[Toonraider 0]

Now this is why I dont fly

 

Do you never hear about car crashes in the news? Why do you drive?

 

Got to admit, plane crashes like this scare me a bit. Most crashes occur on take off or landing and they can recover the wreck to find the cause (and fix it). It's going to be very difficult to solve this one, they had an expert on Radio 4 this morning who said it was unlikely they could even recover the black box from water so deep.

 

Yes of course I worry about car crashes too, expecially the amount of miles we do in a year due to travelling to race meetings. I dont drive actually though I used to, even used to ride mopeds and they're deathtraps! I just feel there are so many twats on the roads that I worry too much.

 

In a way I wish I could bring myself to fly as I could fly up to Newcastle from Exeter so easily! But I just cant get over my fears, so now I dont let it bother me.

 

Just don't read the Express or the Mail, you'd never leave your sofa!

 

[Toonraider 0]

Having thought about it a lot, I reckon I'm simply afraid of dying rather than flying in itself, it's just the experience brings it home.

Aye, same here. And specifically dying in a fairly drawn-out manner and without any influence over the situation. I'm a control freak and I want to have the chance to go out kicking and screaming, dammit.

 

Funnily enough, watching stuff like Air Crash Investigation on the Discovery channel has helped - it brings home the fact that there generally has to be a collection of stupendously random circumstances for anything to go fatally wrong with a flight, so once you accept the need to fly in the first place, you might as well just grin and bear it.

 

Either that or neck half a bottle of something from the duty free beforehand. It won't help your response times in a crash situation, but at least it'll numb the pain.

 

Snap! As I just posted! I'm glad I'm not alone.

[Meenzer 15716]

Snap! As I just posted! I'm glad I'm not alone.

I used to be fine with flying when I was younger, that's the ridiculous thing, but then something kicked in in my early-to-mid-20s. Awareness of mortality and all that maybe.

[Renton 22000]

Having thought about it a lot, I reckon I'm simply afraid of dying rather than flying in itself, it's just the experience brings it home.

Aye, same here. And specifically dying in a fairly drawn-out manner and without any influence over the situation. I'm a control freak and I want to have the chance to go out kicking and screaming, dammit.

 

Funnily enough, watching stuff like Air Crash Investigation on the Discovery channel has helped - it brings home the fact that there generally has to be a collection of stupendously random circumstances for anything to go fatally wrong with a flight, so once you accept the need to fly in the first place, you might as well just grin and bear it.

 

Either that or neck half a bottle of something from the duty free beforehand. It won't help your response times in a crash situation, but at least it'll numb the pain.

 

It helps me too, I've actually watched just about all of them on the National Geographic channel. Mrs R, who is a worse flyer than me, cannot understand this at all and makes me turn them off in her presence, even if it's half way through.

[The Fish 10963]

Snap! As I just posted! I'm glad I'm not alone.

I used to be fine with flying when I was younger, that's the ridiculous thing, but then something kicked in in my early-to-mid-20s. Awareness of mortality and all that maybe.

 

 

You watched Final Destination, didn't you?!

[Toonraider 0]

Snap! As I just posted! I'm glad I'm not alone.

I used to be fine with flying when I was younger, that's the ridiculous thing, but then something kicked in in my early-to-mid-20s. Awareness of mortality and all that maybe.

 

Kids have no fear, no thought for the consequences of anything they do. I used to do the wildest things, infact I was quite a 'wild child' untill into my 20's Though I never attempted to fly....except out of trees I guess like you as I got older I became aware of how fragile we are and how easily things go wrong. I think alot of it is putting your trust in other people and I dont do that very easily. So often people cut corners, I rekon the only way I'd fly is if I built the damn plane and flew it myself....at least I could trust myself to do it all properly!

 

Still, at least you and Renton manage to fly despite your fears. I realise I sound a complete mass of quivering nerves! But if you knew me I'm not really like that!

[Toonraider 0]

Having thought about it a lot, I reckon I'm simply afraid of dying rather than flying in itself, it's just the experience brings it home.

Aye, same here. And specifically dying in a fairly drawn-out manner and without any influence over the situation. I'm a control freak and I want to have the chance to go out kicking and screaming, dammit.

 

Funnily enough, watching stuff like Air Crash Investigation on the Discovery channel has helped - it brings home the fact that there generally has to be a collection of stupendously random circumstances for anything to go fatally wrong with a flight, so once you accept the need to fly in the first place, you might as well just grin and bear it.

 

Either that or neck half a bottle of something from the duty free beforehand. It won't help your response times in a crash situation, but at least it'll numb the pain.

 

It helps me too, I've actually watched just about all of them on the National Geographic channel. Mrs R, who is a worse flyer than me, cannot understand this at all and makes me turn them off in her presence, even if it's half way through.

 

Those programs have put my son off flying.

[Toonpack 9943]

In a previous job I used to fly a couple of times a week, never bothered me at all, quite fatalistic about it all, when your numbers up etc etc

 

Once on one of my regular trips I got a REAL white knuckle blokey beside me, he was obviously very nervous and wasn't slow to say (repeatedly) "I hate flying". As we taxied to the end of the runway I said "I do this every week, don't worry man!" I'll never forget the way he looked at me with great big gratefull eyes until I then said "takeoff's the most dangerous bit, until landing that is, landing is really a controlled crash anyway, but hey if it really really crashes, what can you do"

[Park Life 71]

In a previous job I used to fly a couple of times a week, never bothered me at all, quite fatalistic about it all, when your numbers up etc etc

 

Once on one of my regular trips I got a REAL white knuckle blokey beside me, he was obviously very nervous and wasn't slow to say (repeatedly) "I hate flying". As we taxied to the end of the runway I said "I do this every week, don't worry man!" I'll never forget the way he looked at me with great big gratefull eyes until I then said "takeoff's the most dangerous bit, until landing that is, landing is really a controlled crash anyway, but hey if it really really crashes, what can you do"

 

As you nibbled on a couple of matsa balls.

[ohhh_yeah 2991]