AF flight from Rio missing [merged]
Jun 1, 2009, 8:05 am
#136
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My fear is that the computers which control the flaps/control surfaces were affected, thus the plane would be uncontrollable regardless of if the engines were still running or not.
Usually aircraft have redundancy of just about everything. There's usually a chain of mistakes that happen to bring a modern aircraft down. Most failures are little more than a PIlot REPort upon landing.
Usually aircraft have redundancy of just about everything. There's usually a chain of mistakes that happen to bring a modern aircraft down. Most failures are little more than a PIlot REPort upon landing.
Jun 1, 2009, 8:17 am
#138
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Thanks, Alan. Just flew that route two weeks ago today, but on AF 443 as it was one of the days of the week that there is just one flight ... I prefer the AF 447 as it leaves at 19:00 rather than 16:20, and that's the one I'm usually on (as in this August, for example ...). It's a popular route for the PNC, you often see familiar faces among the personnel when you fly. 
Jun 1, 2009, 8:17 am
#139
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sad news. my thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved.
as a side note, i didn't realize that a lightning strike could bring down an aircraft. was i missing something? (i figured it would throw a wrench in the works, but not bring it down. i'm a bit of a pollyanna, i'm afraid.)
as a side note, i didn't realize that a lightning strike could bring down an aircraft. was i missing something? (i figured it would throw a wrench in the works, but not bring it down. i'm a bit of a pollyanna, i'm afraid.)
Jun 1, 2009, 8:24 am
#140
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sad news. my thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved.
as a side note, i didn't realize that a lightning strike could bring down an aircraft. was i missing something? (i figured it would throw a wrench in the works, but not bring it down. i'm a bit of a pollyanna, i'm afraid.)
as a side note, i didn't realize that a lightning strike could bring down an aircraft. was i missing something? (i figured it would throw a wrench in the works, but not bring it down. i'm a bit of a pollyanna, i'm afraid.)
Jun 1, 2009, 8:26 am
#141
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sad news. my thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved.
as a side note, i didn't realize that a lightning strike could bring down an aircraft. was i missing something? (i figured it would throw a wrench in the works, but not bring it down. i'm a bit of a pollyanna, i'm afraid.)
as a side note, i didn't realize that a lightning strike could bring down an aircraft. was i missing something? (i figured it would throw a wrench in the works, but not bring it down. i'm a bit of a pollyanna, i'm afraid.)
Jun 1, 2009, 8:26 am
#142
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Keep in mind that in these instances there is usually a "perfect storm" (pun not intended) of things going wrong, not just one thing.
Jun 1, 2009, 8:27 am
#143
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Indeed this is a very very tragic story ... my thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims as well. They must be traumatized by this incident.
I'm not sure if this has been brought up yet, but is it possible that the plane exploded in mid-air, like the TWA accident back in 1996 with the 741, or a bomb detonation (though they have ruled out terrorism).
I'm not sure if this has been brought up yet, but is it possible that the plane exploded in mid-air, like the TWA accident back in 1996 with the 741, or a bomb detonation (though they have ruled out terrorism).
Jun 1, 2009, 8:28 am
#144
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Unlikely given that they mentioned electrical problems. But who knows, really.
Jun 1, 2009, 8:31 am
#145
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This is very sad and very shocking news today. My thoughts and sympathies are with all of those who were on board, and with their families and friends.
KG
KG
Jun 1, 2009, 8:33 am
#146
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very sad indeed. the plane had 216 passengers on board out of a possible 219. Air France have had three major accidents in the 21 century now. the other two being the AF358 at YYZ, and the Concorde AF4590 at CDG.
Jun 1, 2009, 8:36 am
#147
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Who knows, really, what happened to this plane at this point. Normally a lightning strike should not bring down an airplane. Do a search on FT and you'll read countless stories of folks being on planes that get hit by lightning and continue on to their destination.
Keep in mind that in these instances there is usually a "perfect storm" (pun not intended) of things going wrong, not just one thing.
Keep in mind that in these instances there is usually a "perfect storm" (pun not intended) of things going wrong, not just one thing.
Jun 1, 2009, 8:42 am
#148
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Eight children, including an infant, were among the 228 passengers who were on board the Air France Airbus A330 which disappeared Monday between Brazil and France, Air France said in a statement.
"Among the 216 passengers, there were 126 men, 82 women, 7 children and a baby, "said Air France
source: Le Point
"Among the 216 passengers, there were 126 men, 82 women, 7 children and a baby, "said Air France
source: Le Point
Jun 1, 2009, 8:48 am
#149
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Five Italians might have been on board of the Air France plane that disappeared with 228 people on a route between Rio de Janeiro and Paris, said Monday the Italian agency Ansa, quoting airport sources.
This information has not been confirmed by official sources.
source: Le Figaro
This information has not been confirmed by official sources.
source: Le Figaro