What: Delta /Atlantic Southeast Airlines 50-seat CRJ-200 Bombardier en route from Columbus to Atlanta
Where: Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
When: June 11, 2009
Who: 19 passengers and 3 crew
Why: On approach to Atlanta, the left main gear failed to extend, in spite of extended efforts. After a partial gear landing, the plane ended up off runway 27 right. No one was reported to be injured.
George’s Point of View
The next big question is whether or not information is withheld.
That’s what some families are wondering, and that’s part of the reason why they’ve hired lawyers. Plaintiffs have access to more information; and they want to know what reason Air France has for not replacing a known Airbus problem, the pitot probes (airbus speed sensors.)
What has been published is error messages based on inconsistent readings taken by the pitot probes.
George’s Point of View
41 bodies from Brazil plane crash have been found.
Brazilian and French searchers are looking northeast of the Fernando de Noronha.
What: Pinnacle/Northwest Airlines Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Detroit I to Huntsville
Where: Memphis International Airport
When: Jun 11th 2009
Who: 36 passengers and 3 crew
Why: The plane flew into an area of severe turbulence and diverted to Memphis. Weather may have been an issue.
What: Aeroflot Airbus A320-200 en route from Irkutsk to Moscow
Where: Novosibirsk
When: Jun 11th 2009
Who: 116 passengers and six crew members
Why: The Airbus made an emergency landing at Novosibirsk when the windshield cracked.
George’s Point of View
The insurance claim for the Air France crash promises to be huge; the cost of the aircraft alone will no doubt exceed a hundred million dollars. Between the international treaty that ensures aviation passenger’s rights, the legal system, insurers like AIG, AXA SA, Allianz SE, American International Group Inc., and the companies which are going to be liable (like Airbus and who ever manufactured those pitot tubes), the claims are going to be in the hundreds of millions.
Spouses, children and parents will be receiving compensation from the insurance, and from companies whose exact degree of liability will be decided through the courts (if not in them.)
IF it gets to the courts.
In situations like this, the insurance companies swoop down before the victims’ families can arm themselves with lawyers; in fact, insurance companies are a little like lawyers. Or worse. They’re like salespeople. They want that signature on the dotted line, and they want to get it for as little as possible. They want that release. To get it, they try to offer victims’ families the smallest possible carrot.
If they can induce families to sign a release, then the families sign away any future claims that might arise from product liability. When you sign that release, you waive the right to sue.
So I’m hoping the families don’t jump the gun here, and rush in to negotiate with the insurance companies without legal counsel on their side. When they sign those release forms, they just might be signing away justice for their loved ones.
What: Spanish Tour group Iberworld Airbus A320-200 en route from Gran Canaria island to Oslo
Where: Canary Islands
When: Wednesday
Who: 180 passengers and 9 crew
Why: After takeoff, the engine began banging and showering sparks. The flight returned to the Las Palmas airport, where the passengers debarked to wait for alternative transportation.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Lukas Bluth
What: Lufthansa Airbus A330-300 en route from Frankfurt to Kolkata, India
Where: Hyderabad
When: Jun 8th 2009
Who: 225 passengers
Why: When the pilot spotted a hole in the runway, strong winds prevented it from landing at the other runway, so the approach was aborted. The airbus circled, then diverted to Hyderabad where it landed safely.
After the runway was repaired, the plane returned with 174 passengers.
George’s Point of View
I’ve talked about Aircraft maintenance before, but not that much about airport maintenance. It’s obviously important that runways be kept in tip-top shape. Taking them for granted results in accidents like the the TAM disaster.
Lufthansa is to be commended for NOT having an accident–in spite of the Kolkata airport’s disrepair.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Wim Callaert
What: Air China Airbus 340-300 en route from Milan Italy to Beijing China
Where: Moscow
When: Tuesday 9.07pm
Who: 155 passengers 18 crew
Why: When one of the Airbus’s 4 engines failed, the crew requested an immediate emergency landing in Russia.
85 passengers were booked to continue to Beijing on Aeroflot and others were being booked elsewhere, later.
George’s Point of View
Slow boat to china?
How about taking a broken airbus to China?
Let’s not.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Mick Bajcar
What: American Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from New York JFK airport to Switzerland
Where: Halifax Nova Scotia
When: June 9 2009 Tuesday night 8:20 p.m (45 minutes after takeoff)
Who: 206 on board: 194 passengers and 12 crew
Why: After takeoff, smoke was detected in the cabin. The flight requested an emergency landing in Halifax. The cause of the smoke was determined to be an electrical fire in the plane’s bathroom ceiling fan which had caught fire after overheating
A replacement jet was arranged to take the passengers to Zurich.
The latest find is the vertical stabilizer from the Airbus tail section. The original paint is still visible, and it apparently is not burned. The damage is described as “a lateral fracture” the examination of which will provide clues to the force that caused the break.
The latest in a series of theories conjectures that the break could be the result of structural stress due to the plane’s traveling too fast due to frozen pitot tubes that didn’t correctly gauge the planes rate of speed.
A total of 24 bodies have been found of the original 228.
The black box is missing. The general area of the crash is up to a mile and a half deep, and the listening devices provided by the US will probably not be in use until Thursday.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Rolf Wallner
What: Myanmar Airways Fokker F-28 Fellowship 4000 en route from Yangon-Mingaladon Airport to Sittwe-Civil Airport in Myanmar
Where: Myanmar
When: 06 JUN 2009 08:20
Who: Three people were injured on landing.
Why: While landing, the landing gear and one wing of the jet were damaged. Details of the landing are not yet available, but if we get sent another update, we will update this post.
George’s Point of View
Really, a plane of this advanced age should carry a cane, or be carted out to the runway in a wheelchair. We don’t have the details of the landing, the weather, or the craft, but It’s no wonder the landing gear gave out.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Joey Collura
What: American Airlines Airbus A300-600 en route from Miami to Port Au Prince
Where: Miami
When: Jun 6th 2009
Why: Minutes after take-off, the plane developed hydraulics problems and returned to the airport to deal with a leak in the hydraulics.
George’s Point of View
I have said it before. Old planes should be retired to the desert.
Serial Number 466
Manufacturer Name AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
Model A300B4-605R
MFR Year 1988
Certificate Issue Date 09/09/1988The Most Current Airworthiness Certificate:
Engine Manufacturer GE Classification Standard
Engine Model CF6-80 SERIES Category TransportA/W Date 11/30/198
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer James Gardner
What: Icelandair Boeing 757-200 en route from Paris to Reykjavik
Where: emergency landing at Gatwick in London
When: Jun 4th 2009
Who: 148 passengers
Why: The engine made a loud noise and the crew declared an emergency, and shut down the engine. After the emergency landing in London, passengers waited for substitute Icelandair and Iceland Express planes to take them on to Reykjavik, while some returned to Paris.
As the search for passengers from flight AF447 continues, Air France has announced it’s accelerating the replacement of Airbus speed monitors.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Neil Guinea
What: Air Canada Airbus A330-300 en route from Vancouver, BC to Tokyo, Japan
Where: Vancouver
When: June 4th 2009
Who: 147 people on board
Why: The Airbus experienced pressurization issues en route. The plane returned to Vancouver and landed safely an hour after it left.
George’s Point of View
I try very hard not to miss an Airbus mishap, especially one that takes a life.
On November 27, 2008 at 16:46 local time (15:46 UTC), an Airbus A320, equipped with International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500 engines, German registration D-AXLA, serial number 2500, impacted the Mediterranean sea during approach to runway 33 at Perpignan Rivesaltes airport (LFMP) in Perpignan, France.
On May 30, 2008 at 1545Z, an Airbus A320-233, Irish registration EI-TAF, operated by Taca Airlines as flight No. 390, overran the end of runway 02, at the Toncontin International Airport (TGU), in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, during landing.
On July 17, 2007, at 21:54 UTC, an Airbus A320-233, Brazilian registration PTMBK, serial number 789, operated by TAM Linhas Aéreas overran the end of runway 35 at the Sao Paulo Congonhas airport upon landing.
On July 9, 2006 at approximately 0750 local time, S7 Airlines flight 778, an Airbus A310-300, registration F-OGYP, overran the end of runway 30 and crashed while landing at Irkutsk Airport, Irkutsk, Russia. Not technically an
A320I really don’t like these A320s.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Paul Stam
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-200 en route from Dublin to London
Where: Dublin Airport
When: Jun 6th 2009 11: 30 am.
Who:
Why: Coming out of London the Airbus was struck by lightning. The flight returned to London, and landed safely. Passengers debarked half an hour after they had gotten on, and booked other flights as the Airbus was examined for damage.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Chris Patton
What: Skyservice Airlines Airbus A320-200 on behalf of Thomson Airways en route from Turkey to Belfast
Where: Dalaman
When: Monday June 1
Who: More than 200 passengers. (Exact figures not available yet.)
Why: Just after take-off, the pilot narrowly avoided colliding with a Turkish military jet. After the maneuver, the plane fell hundreds of feet, leveled off and continued to Ireland.
George’s Point of View
Fates are at it again.
What: United Express Embraer 175 en route from Pittsburgh to Denver
Where: Quad-Cities International Airport,
When: Thursday, June 4 9:05 a.m.
Who: Sixty-seven passengers and four crew (2 flight attendants, a pilot and co-pilot.)
Why: When smoke filled the cabin, and there were electrical problems, the flight diverted to Quad City International Airport in Moline. Emergency slides were not used, and there were no injuries.
It took under ten minutes from the perception of the emergency to the safe landing.
George’s Point of View
After a tragedy like the Air France Airbus, each safe landing after an emergency reminds of what a blessing a safe homecoming is.
Maldivian airtaxi. Meedhupparu Island. April 02, 2008
What: Maldivian Air Taxi de Havilland DHC6 Twin Otter
Where: Halavelhi Resort lagoon while coming in for a landing, one of the Otter’s wings struck the water causing the crew to lose control of the airplane.
When: Jun 2nd 2009
Who: 4 passengers, 3 crew
Why: After taking photographers on a photo-flight over the resort, on return, the wing struck water and the pilot lost control. There were no major injuries.
What: Northwest Airlines Flight 335 Boeing 757 en route from Detroit to Los Angeles.
Where: Waterloo
When: on Tuesday morning
Who: 182 passengers
Why: An hour into the flight, the crew smelled smoke and diverted to Waterloo. Northwest is flying mechanics in on a substitute 757.
Timeline of the disappearance of Air France flight 447:
All times are universal time, or Greenwich Mean Time. At this time of year, Seattle is seven hours behind GMT.
May 31:
22:03 — Air France flight 447 departs from Rio de Janeiro. (Brazilian Air Force says plane left at 22:30.)
June 1:
01:30 — Plane has last contact with Brazil air traffic control, where it is 351 miles from the city of Natal.
01:48 — Brazilian Air Force has last radar contact. Plane appears to be flying normally.
02:00 — Aircraft hits a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence
02:14 — An automatic message was received from the aircraft at indicating a failure in the electric circuit a long way from the coast.
02:20 — Plane fails to make previously scheduled radio contact with Brazil. Brazil notifies air traffic control in Dakar, Senegal.
05:00 – 06:00 — Brazilian, African, Spanish and French air traffic control centers try to make contact with the flight, but are not successful. The French military air traffic control center cannot detect the aircraft.
05:30 — Brazilian Air Force starts a search and rescue mission
07:30 — Air France sets up a crisis center
09:15 — Flight was expected to arrive in Paris
11:31 — Air France announces the following: “Air France regrets to announce that it has lost contact with flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, expected to arrive this morning at 11:15 local time.”
13:10 — Air France announces the following: “Air France regrets to confirm the disappearance of flight AF 447 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, scheduled to arrive at 11:10am local time today, as announced to the press by Air France CEO, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.”
13:59 — Air France reports that it has sent all of the information it has regarding the flight to the French Accident Investigation Bureau for civil aviation (BEA) and to Airbus
14:44 — By this time, the airplane is expected to have run out of fuel. Air France publicizes “its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board AF flight 447 on 31 May 2009, which disappeared somewhere between Rio de Janeiro and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.”
Airbus also announces, “Airbus regrets to confirm that an Airbus A330-200 operated by Air France has been lost about 3.5 hours after departure.”
18:13 — Air France releases a list of the nationalities on board
(Sources:
“Flight Safety Information” is a service of:
Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP
CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC
(Targeting Safety & Risk Management)
curt@curt-lewis.com
www.curt-lewis.com
www.fsinfo.org)
Paris, 01 June 2009 – 16:44 local time
Press release N° 4
Air France expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board AF flight 447 on 31 May 2009, which disappeared somewhere between Rio de Janeiro and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Air France is doing its utmost to provide support to relatives and friends: counselling with physicians and psychologists as well as specially trained Air France volunteers has been set up at the airports of Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 and Rio de Janeiro.
Air France has also established a special toll-free number for the attention of relatives and friends of passengers who may have been on board. They can use this number to obtain information on whether or not a member of their family or friends was on board.
Phone number reserved for relatives and friends
0800 800 812 in France,
0800 881 20 20 in Brazil,
and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from all other countries.
Air France will release further information as soon as it is available.
NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for relatives and close friends.
Português
Air France dirige suas sinceras condolências às famílias e amigos dos passageiros e membros da tripulação que se encontravam a bordo do voo AF 447 do dia 31 de maio, desaparecido entre o Rio de Janeiro e Paris Charles de Gaulle.
A Air France está concentrando todos os seus esforços em dar suporte às famílias e parentes: uma assistência psicológica foi instalada no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 e no aeroporto do Rio de Janeiro. Ela é composta de médicos e psicólogos, assim como voluntários da empresa, especialmente treinados para estas situações.
A empresa também colocou à disposição um número de telefone toll free especial de atendimento às famílias dos passageiros. Ela informa, conforme solicitação, de uma eventual presença a bordo de um familiar.
Números de telefone reservados às famílias
0800 881 20 20 para o Brasil,
0800 800 812 para a França,
e 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países
Air France comunicará outras informações assim que elas estiverem disponíveis.
NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.
Paris, 01 June 2009 – 15:59 local time
Press release N° 3
Air France has sent all the information in its possession on the disappearance of flight AF 447 operating the Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle route to the French Accident Investigation Bureau for civil aviation (BEA), the French organization in charge of technical investigations into civil aviation incidents and accidents, and to the aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Air France is in permanent contact with the BEA and Airbus.
The Airbus A330-200 aircraft, registration F-GZCP, left Rio on 31 May at 7:03pm local time (12:03am in Paris). The aircraft hit a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence at 2am this morning (universal time), i.e. 4am in Paris. An automatic message was received from the aircraft at 2:14am (4:14am in Paris) indicating a failure in the electric circuit in an area a long way off the coast.
The aircraft was powered with General Electric CF6-80E engines.
The aircraft had totalled 18,870 flight hours and went into service on 18 April 2005.
Its last maintenance check in the hangar took place on 16 April 2009.
Air France shares the anxiety and distress of the families concerned. The families are being taken care of in a specially reserved area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.
A toll-free number has been opened at 0800 800 812 in France,
at 0800 881 20 20 in Brazil
and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from outside France.
NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for families and close relatives.
Português
Air France informou ao Bureau de Investigação e Análises para a Segurança de Aviação civil, organismo responsavél na França pelas investigações técnicas sobre acidentes e incidentes da aviação civil, e para a Airbus, fabricante do avião, as informações que tem em seu poder após o desaparecimento do voo AF 447, fazendo a ligação Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle : a companhia está em contato permanente com o Bureau e com a Airbus.
A aeronave, do tipo Airbus A330-200, matrícula F-GZCP, deixou o Rio dia 31 de maio às 19h03 (hora local).
A aeronave atravessou uma zona de tempestade com fortes turbulências às 2 horas da manhã (horário TU) – 23 horas horário do Brasil. Uma mensagem automática foi recebida às 2h14 da manhã (horário TU = 23h14 horário do Brasil) indicando uma pane do circuito elétrico numa zona afastada da costa.
A aeronave é equipada de motores General Electric CF6-80E.
O avião tem um total de 18 870 horas de voo e começou a operar em 18 de abril de 2005.
A última visita de manutenção em hangar foi feita em 16 de abril de 2009.
A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no Salão Nobre do Galeão.
Um toll free está disponível :
0800 881 2020 para o Brasil
0800 800 812 para a França,
e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países
NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.
Paris, 01 June 2009 – 15:10 local time
Press release N° 2
Air France regrets to confirm the disappearance of flight AF 447 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, scheduled to arrive at 11:10am local time today, as announced to the press by Air France CEO, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.
The Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP, left Rio on 31 May at 7:03pm local time (12:03am in Paris).
The aircraft hit a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence at 2am this morning (universal time), i.e. 4am in Paris. An automatic message was received from the aircraft at 2:14am (4 :14am in Paris) indicating a failure in the electric circuit a long way from the coast.
The Brazilian, African, Spanish and French air traffic control centres all tried to make contact with flight AF 447 but to no avail. The French military air traffic control centre tried to detect the aircraft but did not succeed.
216 passengers were on board: 126 men, 82 women, 7 children and one infant.
There were 12 flight crew members: 3 pilots and 9 flight attendants.
The flight captain had a record of 11,000 flight hours and had already flown 1,700 hours on Airbus A330/A340s.
Of the two first officers, one had flown 3,000 flight hours (800 of which on the Airbus A330/A340) and the other 6,600 (2,600 on the Airbus A330/A340).
The aircraft was powered by General Electric CF6-80E engines.
The aircraft had totalled 18,870 flight hours and went into service on 18 April 2005.
Its last maintenance check in the hangar took place on 16 April 2009.
Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families concerned. The families are being taken care of in a specially reserved area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.
A toll-free number has been opened at 0800 800 812 for calls from France,
and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from outside France.
NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for families and close relatives.
Português
A Air France lamenta informar o desaparecimento do voo AF 447 que efetuava a ligação entre Rio de Janeiro e Paris-Charles de Gaulle, chegada prevista às 11h10 (hora local), acaba de anunciar o Diretor Geral da Air France, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.
A aeronave, do tipo Airbus A330-200, matrícula F-GZCP, deixou o Rio dia 31 de maio às 19h03 (hora local).
A aeronave atravessou uma zona de tempestade com fortes turbulências às 2 horas da manhã (horário TU) – 23 horas horário do Brasil. Uma mensagem automática foi recebida às 2h14 da manhã (horário TU = 23h14 horário do Brasil) indicando uma pane do circuito elétrico numa zona afastada da costa.
O conjunto dos controles aéreos civis brasileiro, africano, espanhol e francês tentaram em vão estabelecer contato com o voo AF 447. O controle aéreo militar francês tentou detectar o avião, sem sucesso.
216 passageiros estão a bordo : 126 homens, 82 mulheres, 7 crianças e um bebê.
A tripulação é composta por 12 pessoas : 3 tripulantes técnicos e 9 comissários.
O comandante tem 11 mil horas de voo e já tinha efetuado 1700 horas no Airbus A330/A340.
Os dois co-pilotos possuem: um 3000 horas de voo, sendo 800 horas em Airbus A330/A340 e o outro 6600, sendo 2 600 em Airbus A330/A340.
A aeronave é equipada de motores General Electric CF6-80E.
O avião tem um total de 18 870 heures de voo e começou a operar em 18 de abril de 2005.
A última visita de manutenção em hangar foi feita em 16 de abril de 2009.
A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.
Um toll free está disponível :
0800 881 2020 para o Brasil
0800 800 812 para a França,
e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países
NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias
Paris, 01 June 2009 – 13:31 local time
First press release
Air France regrets to announce that it has lost contact with flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, expected to arrive this morning at 11:15 local time.
The flight left Rio on 31 May at 7pm local time.
216 passengers are on board.
There are 12 crew members on board: 3 pilots and 9 cabin crew.
The following toll-free number is available in France: 0800 800 812,
and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 outside France.
Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families of the passengers concerned. The families are been taken care of in a specially reserved area at Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 airport.
Português
Air France lamenta informar que se encontra sem notícias do voo AF 447 que efetuava a ligação entre Rio de Janeiro e Paris Charles de Gaulle, com chegada prevista às 11h15 da manhã (hora local).
O voo decolou do Rio no dia 31 de maio às 19 horas locais.
216 passageiros estão a bordo.
A tripulação é composta de 12 pessoas : 3 tripulantes técnicos e 9 comissários.
Um toll free está disponível :
0800 800 812 para a França,
e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países
A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.
UPDATE: 11:40pm EDT: The French government has requested assistance from the US in hopes that US spy satellites and listening stations could help find the aircraft.
George’s Point of View
June 30 1994 was a red letter day for the A330. It’s only fatality occurred on June 30 1994 when pilot error and faulty autopilot systems killed three pilots, two engineers and two observers on board a test flight.
So we can hope that today–June 1 2009–does not become another red letter day in A330 history. The last communication from the flight was an automatic report of an electrical short circuit and the loss of cabin pressure.
The A330:
-6,750 nautical mile range
-seats up to 335 passengers
-600 in service with 82 airlines
-300 on order
-38% more fuel efficient than the DC-10
-choice of GE, Pratt & Whitney, or Rolls Royce engines
-Variants:
A330-200 A330-300 A330-200FOur thoughts are with all on board and families.
Youtube text follows:
PARIS, France (CNN — An Air France plane missing over the Atlantic with 228 people aboard reported electrical problems before it lost contact, the airline said Monday.
The incident involves an Air France Airbus A330-200.
The Airbus A330-200 jet had experienced turbulence during the 11-hour flight from Rio de Janeiro to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, the spokesman said.
Brazil’s air force has launched a search near the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha in the Atlantic Ocean, 365 km (226 miles) from Brazil’s coast, a spokesman for the air force told CNN.
Two Brazilian squadrons are searching for the plane, although it disappeared after it left the country’s radar space, said the officer, who declined to be named.
The flight, AF 447, took off shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday local time (6 p.m. Sunday ET) for the 11-hour flight, with 216 passengers and 12 crew members. It was scheduled to land in Paris at 11:15 a.m. local time (5:15 a.m. ET).
The last known contact with the plane was at 1:33 a.m. GMT (8:33 p.m. Sunday night ET), the Brazilian Air Force spokesman said.
Air France said it could not confirm reports of a short circuit on board the aircraft.
The airline said it “shared the emotion and the concern of the families concerned” adding that friends and relatives waiting at the airport would be taken to a special area.
A crisis center is being set up at Charles de Gaulle where the plane had been due to land at 11.15 a.m. local time.
Agence France-Presse quoted France’s Environment Minister Jean Louis Borloo saying that it was extremely unlikely the plane had been hijacked.
“We are very worried,” an aviation official told AFP. “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.”
