Lost

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    LA Private Plane Crashed near Cabo San Lucas

    What: Beechcraft Baron en route from Los Angeles, California to Cabo San Lucas
    Where: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
    When: Sept 25 2010
    Who: 4 passengers, names not released
    Why: The wreckage of a small plane was found on a mountain north of the Cabo San Lucas. The crash is in a remote location, and rescuers are attempting to get to the rugged terrain. The plane broke into two parts but did not catch on fire.

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    Missing Plane Crash Couple Found

    What: Privately owned Glasair Aviation “Sportsman 2+2” plane en route to a fishing trip on Lake Klemka
    Where: Pipmuacan Reservoir in the Saguenay region
    When: Sunday August
    Who: Carol Tremblay, 56, and Nathalie Cote, 44,
    Why: The couple had decided to go fishing on Lake Klemka, and flew there on the Sportsman configured with floats. They landed on the Pipmuacan Reservoir and were checking for directions when the plane started letting in water. They donned their life jackets and swam (for an hour) for the island. Tuesday they swam from the island to the reservoir and walked till they found a cabin where they found a battery, which enabled them to light-signal the helicopters searching for them.

    Joint Co-ordination Rescue Centre in Trenton, Ont., recovered them shortly at 9 p.m. on August 31.

    George’s Point of View

    So many crashes end badly, it is a real pleasure to hear of survivors who walked away—in this case, swam away—from a downed plane. Their fishing trip turned out to be, not a tragedy, but simply rather more of an adventure than they had anticipated.

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    Missing Plane and Pilot

    What: RV-7 aircraft en route from Ohio to Georgetown, Texas.
    Where: (missing in the) Ark-La-Tex area
    When: August 22, 2010
    Who: pilot Charles Miller
    Why: The pilot took off from El Dorado Arkansas Thursday and has not been seen again.

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    Zamboanga Helicopter Lost at Sea; Pilots Missing; US to aid Search

    What: Philippine Navy Volco 411 helicopter performing routine maneuvers
    Where: 1,500 yards from Great Santa Cruz Island Philippines
    When: August 17 2010
    Who: 5 aboard, two missing pilots: First Lieutenant Cristan Corpuz and First Lieutenant Gerald Tamayo
    Why: The crew was engaged in documenting a Special Operations unit Amphibious Small Boat exercise; they were taking aerial photos and videos when they seemed to have engine trouble–although the actual cause will be a mystery until the investigation.

    The US is going to assist in recovery with their towed sonar. The crash site us 8 to 9 fathoms deep.

    Petty Officers Abdon Martinez, Noel Ridad and Rodolfo Pataweg are the survivors.

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    Small Plane Lost in Maine Kills 2


    This is not George A. Fortin’s N96389; it is a Taylorcraft BC-12D Twosome photographed at Millinocket Municipal Airport in Maine
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Paul Robbins

    What: vintage 1946 Taylorcraft BC12-D en route from Limington airport
    Where: field near Cape Monday Road, Harrison, Maine,
    40 miles northwest of Portland
    When: August 14 2010
    Who: 2 fatalities
    Why: The flight was reported lost when it did not return Saturday night. The wreckage was found 6 am Sunday. It appears that the pilot struck trees while attempting a field landing.

    Pilot George A. Fortin and passenger Anatole “Tony” Kalinuk were killed in the crash.

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    GA: Missing Helicopter found

    What: 2006 Robinson R44II en route North Palm Beach County airport to Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris
    Where: north Georgia mountains
    When: Monday evening
    Who: pilot Adam Reeves, of Jupiter, Fla and unidentified passenger
    Why: The helicopter had been missing since Monday. It was found Friday afternoon by the Civil Air Patrol, having crashed in the N. Georgia mountains in northern Lumpkin County around 2:30 p.m. The search began after relatives of the passengers made inquiries at the airport about a helicopter that had never arrived.

    The flight had been due in Blairsville at 7 p.m but had never arrived.

    The helicopter refueled in Madison, Ga around 6:30 pm Monday. At some unknown time it left North Palm Beach County.

    Reeves was a former U.S. Air Force medic who ran health care and realty companies in Palm Beach County.

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    Recovered: Last Victim of Lake Michigan Cessna Crash

    What: Cessna 206 en route from Alma Michigan to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn
    Where: Lake Michigan, Ludington MI
    When: July 23, 2010
    Who: 4 fatalities, 1 survivor 66-year-old pilot, Jerry Freed
    Why: While en route on a medical evacuation flight, the pilot contacted ATC about experiencing mechanical problems, then the medical flight crashed into Lake Michigan on July 23. The pilot was rescued by boaters Randall Schmidt and his wife, Kristin Berg, about 2 miles from shore. Six foot waves hindered the recovery efforts.

    The Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Unit sonar found the plane at approximately 6 p.m. last Thursday.

    The remains of Alma school superintendent and cancer patient Don Pavlik and his wife, Irene, were recovered Friday by divers. The body of Dr. James Hall was recovered Saturday night and identified Sunday. Co-pilot Earl Davidson was found last, on Sunday at 9 a.m..

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    Beechcraft Lost in Kentucky

    What: Island Trading Ltd. Hawker Beechcraft 58 en route from from Frederick, Maryland to Olive Branch MS
    Where: Leslie County
    When: April 27 2010
    Who: pilot and passenger
    Why: While en route, the plane lost contact, and is believed to have wrecked in eastern Kentucky, in a remote, mountainous area of Leslie County. It is believed the wreckage was located at 5:30 pm, with no survivors.

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    Flight Update: Ethiopian Death Toll Rising

    By nightfall tonight, 34 bodies have been recovered.

    Investigative crews sort through baby sandals, and airplane parts drifting ashore. People are questioning why the flight was not delayed due to the storm raging at the time of takeoff.

    The USS-Ramage, and US P-3 surveillance aircraft are helping with search and rescue efforts.

    The plane was last serviced on Dec. 25.

    Reports abound that the plane was seen to be on fire on its way down. If reports of an engine fire proved to be correct, it would have been difficult to handle at such a low altitude; but reports of a lighting strike, compounded by poor visibility and high winds compounded by a bird strike are equally as possible.

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    Ace Lost At Sea


    Pictured: Alaska Central Express (ACE) Beech 1900C shot in Anchorage
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Ben Wang

    What: ACE Alaska Central Express Air Cargo Beech 1900C en route from Sand Point to Anchorage
    Where: Sand Point Alaska
    When: Jan 22nd 2010
    Who: 2 crew
    Why: While en route, the flight lost altitude, and then lost communication. It hit the sea around midnight.

    A search party has been formed. Some wreckage has been found near Egg Island.


    View Egg Island in a larger map

    We are hoping the crew will be found alive and intact.

    *** ACE Air Cargo Press Release ***

    January 22, 2010

    ACE Air Cargo has joined the search for our Beech 1900 aircraft, that disappeared shortly after departing Sand Point, Alaska with two pilots on board yesterday evening. At this time, we are focused on the welfare of our pilots and their families and will be releasing no further information at this time. We ask that the media respect the privacy of our employees and their families at this time. More information will be released as it becomes available.

    Click image to visit Ace site.

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    Piper Lost at Sea


    Photo Copyright© by Buy aircraft for sale 2001-2009.

    What: Travis R. Compton’s Piper PA-23-250 Turbo Aztec F en route from Fort Lauderdale to Grenada
    Where: 10 miles northeast of Plana Cays, Bahamas
    When: Dec 24 2009
    Who: 2 aboard (Travis Compton and Bancroft Nyack)
    Why: The plane flew out of radio and radar contact on Thursday at 11:30. A plane in the vicinity reported a distress call.

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    Lost Russian TU-142

    What: Russian Pacific Fleet Tupolev Tu-142M3
    Where: Tatar Strait (Tatarskiy Strait)
    When: 06 November, 2009
    Who: Eleven people on board
    Why: While on a routine training mission, the flight disappeared from ATC radar in the vicinity of Cape Sadinga.

    The retrieval effort of wreckage, bodies and black boxes continues with ferry boats and harbor tugs and aircraft of the 11th army VVS PVO (Air Defense), although hampered by strong sea currents.

    At 07.10 am with the help of sonar in the vicinity of Cape Sadinga north bay Silantyeva at a depth of 44 meters, an object was discovered that is presumed to be the lost plane. On the water surface items were visible which may be fragments of the plane shell. Rescue work continues.

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    Charleston SC: Lost F-16, Pilot

    What: Two Air Force F-16 fighters
    Where: 40 miles off Folly Beach, near Charleston
    When: Thurs Oct 14, 8:30 pm
    Who: 1 pilot and 1 plane missing
    Why: During night exercises, the two planes collided. One of them returned to base; there is currently a search for Capt. Nicholas Giglio based at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter.

    Investigators believe the bottom of the other jet struck the top of Giglio’s fighter and pierced the pilot’s canopy. The pilot is now thought to never have had time to eject.

    An oil slick was seen off the Coast of South Carolina by the Coast Guard but the search remains hopeful of a presumed “pilot who is in the water … needs to be rescued” mission.

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    AZ: Piper Crashes Remote Mountainous Terrain


    Pictured: A record breaking Museum Archived Piper PA-24-260 Comanche B housed in the UK
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Martin Pole

    What: single-engine PA-24 Comanche en route from St Johns to Aguila
    Where: Horsethief Basin area, Yavapai County AZ
    When: Oct 4 2009
    Who: Ralph Smith, 74, and his wife Francis Smith, 70
    Why: The cause of the crash has not been determined yet. The crash started a fire in the area; the downed plane was a surprise to firefighters, and not immediately tied to the fire.

    Smith was a retired airline pilot.

    The pilot and his wife were not found immediately; the crash occurred in a remote area, but both bodies were recovered by Tuesday.

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    Plane lost in New Guinea


    Pictured: A Papua New Guinea Airlines De Havilland Twin Otter
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Steve Bond

    What: PNG (Papua New Guinea) de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter en routefrom Port Moresby to Efogi and further on to the Kokoda Trail
    Where: New Guinea
    When: Aug 11th 2009
    Who: 11 passengers and 2 crew
    Why: The plane never arrived at Port Moresby, and is missing during heavily overcast weather conditions. The last radio contact was on approach to Kokoda, which was aborted.

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    Indonesian Plane Missing


    Pictured: A Merpati Twin Otter plane
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Vector Grafix

    What: Merpati Nusantara Airlines de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 en route from Jayapura to Oksibil Indonesia
    Where: unknown
    When: Aug 2nd 2009
    Who: 13 passengers and 2 crew
    Why: Initially the weather was reported to be foggy, but 2 hours after the flight, thunder storms were reported. The tower has not been contacted since 10:35 and although the flight was due at 11:05, it never arrived.

    State owned PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines is sending out another twin-otter to search for the missing plane. It was lost while passing through the Jayapura to Oksibil route

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    New Zealand Pilot Missing in Bad Weather

    What: New Plymouth Aero Club Cessna 152 en route from North Shore to New Plymouth.
    Where: Waikato, near Te Kuiti New Zealand
    When: 21 JUL 2009 1930
    Who: 1
    Why: Missing plane; circumstances largely unknown.

    At 7:30, the plane’s distress beacon was heard, and though the pilot’s last communication indicated an anticipated landing at New Plymouth by 7.50 pm, the plane never arrived at its intended destination. Search was dispached in the vicinity of the beacon 35 miles west of Te Kuiti, but weather (tornados forecast), low cloud cover, and difficult terrain proved an obstacle to the search.

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    CEO Dies in Venezuelan Plane Crash

    What: Beechcraft BE-36 Bonanza en route from Miami to Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
    Where: Venezuela
    When: 6 p.m. Brasilia time on July 11
    Who: Mauricio Lustosa de Castro, CEO of Magnesita Refratorios SA
    Why: Mauricio Lustosa de Castro’s private plane was last heard from in a distress call in Bolivar. Following the distress call a search and rescue began around July 13, though the incident was deemed a fatal crash on July 11.

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    Yemenia Air Airbus Crashes, 154 missing in Indian Ocean


    View larger photo here
    Contact photographer Iam Lim
    What: Yemenia Air Airbus 310 flight 626 en route from Yemen’s capital Sanaa to Moroni
    Where: Indian Ocean near the Comoros archipelago
    When: Monday June 29, 2009
    Who: 142 passengers, 11 crew.
    Why: The exact location of the crash was unknown, but investigators began looking five to 10 kilometres from the coast along the “landing approach.” Rough weather is hampering the search.

    An unidentified boat found the plane which did go down in the Indian Ocean, so close to the coast that villagers saw the crash occur. Wreckage was found about six minutes from the airport where it was due to land. (The nationality of the boat is not known; apparently Comoros does not have the resources.)

    And a ship has already found the wreckage.


    Yemin call center: for more info contact the call center at 00967 1250800 or the emergency No 00967 1 250833 or call center 00967 1 250800 #IY626

    George’s Point of View

    Another Airbus!

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    Timeline: Air France flight 447

    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)

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    Air France Press Releases

    Flight Air France 447 Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle

    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.

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    A330: Continued

    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 A330-200F

    Our 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.”

  • | | | |

    Air France Flight 447 Airbus Missing


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Gabriel Widyna

    Family members can call — 0 800 800 812 for people in France and 00 33 1 57 02 10 55 for families outside France.


    What: 4 year old Air France Airbus A330-200 en route from Rio de Janeiro,RJ (Brazil) to Paris Charles de Gaulle
    Where: Missing over the Atlantic Ocean
    When: June 1
    Who: In all, there were 216 passengers (incl seven children and one baby, 82 women and 126 men) and 12 crew. 60 French citizens were on the plane. Italy said at least three passengers were Italian.The pilot had 11,000 hours of flying experience, and 1,700 hours flying this aircraft.
    Why: The last known radio contact was an automatic message made at 0133 GMT when the plane was near the Island of Fernando de Noronha; since then, the airplane has made no radio communication. Fifteen minutes after flying through a storm and strong turbulence, there was an electrical short-circuit. There is speculation that the plane may have been hit by lightning.

    Search planes left Fernando de Noronha Island looking for signs of the plane concentrating in an area 230 miles off the northeast Brazil coast. Though there is not radar over the entire ocean, the black box will be emit a signal even if it is under water.

    The flight left Rio at 7 p.m. and was expected in Paris on Monday at 11:15 a.m. By now, fuel would have run out.

    Families of the missing are being brought to an information centre at Charles de Gaulle airport.

  • | |

    Helicopter Update: 16 Passengers All Lost

    The Bond website is temporarily suspended.

    Helpline phone number for relatives is 01224 836479

    Pilot Paul Burnham, 31, from Methlick, Aberdeenshire
    Co-pilot Richard Menzies, 24, of Droitwich Spa, Worcs.
    Oil workers from Aberdeen; Raymond
    Brian Barkley, 30
    James Costello, 24,
    Vernon John Elrick, 41
    Alex Dallas, 62,

    Oil workers
    Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld
    James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool,
    Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee,
    Nolan Carl Goble, 34, of Norwich,
    Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus,
    Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire,
    David Rae, 63, of Dumfries,
    Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore,
    Aberdeenshire
    Stuart Wood, 27, of Newmacher, Aberdeen.

    The name of one Latvian victim has not been released.

  • | |

    Colorado Cessna Crash


    What: single engine Cessna 182 en route from Rocky Mountain Regional Airport to Price City in Carbon County, Utah
    Where: found a tenth of a mile east of Josephine Lake in the Holy Cross Wilderness area
    When: Scheduled to land 8 p.m. on Monday but flight was lost. Wreckage spotted on Wednesday.
    Who: pilot Michael Loveless of Price, Utah
    Why: found by a National Guard Helicopter; Vail Mountain Rescue Group and Western Eagle County Search and Rescue are helping with recovery, but weather has prevented crews from reaching the wreckage