According to Air France, the airline lost contact with a plane carrying 228 people from Brazil to Paris. Spokeswoman Brigitte Barrand saids, "Air France regrets to announce that it is without news from Air France flight 447 flying from Rio to Paris." The plane disappeared about 186 miles (300 kilometers) northeast of the coastal Brazilian city of Natal and near Fernando de Noronha, the spokesman said.
She said on June 1 that the flight was carrying 216 passengers and 12 crew members. Meanwhile, the Brazilian air force began a search near the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. The spokeswoman said that there is "no hope" for the flight and passengers, adding to the fears of a disaster.
Spokeswoman Barrand said "Air France shares the emotion and worry of the families concerned." Air France has installed an information center at Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris for the families of those aboard. The Airbus A330-220 flight was scheduled to arrive in Paris at 0915 GMT (5:15 a.m. EDT).
RSS