This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-13572569
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Air France Rio crash: Jet plunged in minutes | Air France Rio crash: Jet plunged in minutes |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Air France jet which crashed into the Atlantic en route from Rio in 2009 stalled and fell in three and a half minutes, French investigators report. | The Air France jet which crashed into the Atlantic en route from Rio in 2009 stalled and fell in three and a half minutes, French investigators report. |
| The air accident investigations bureau (BEA) found the crew had struggled with contradictory speed readings just before the plane crashed. | The air accident investigations bureau (BEA) found the crew had struggled with contradictory speed readings just before the plane crashed. |
| A principal theory for the cause of the crash is that the jet's speed probes iced up, resulting in faulty data. | A principal theory for the cause of the crash is that the jet's speed probes iced up, resulting in faulty data. |
| All 228 people on board were killed in the disaster. | All 228 people on board were killed in the disaster. |
| The BEA findings were released in an online statement in response to speculation in the media over the findings from the flight recorders, only recovered from the sea this month. | The BEA findings were released in an online statement in response to speculation in the media over the findings from the flight recorders, only recovered from the sea this month. |
| A full report into the disaster is not expected until next year. | A full report into the disaster is not expected until next year. |
| Airbus, the maker of the A330 jet involved, said the French statement was a "significant step" in understanding the causes of the crash. | Airbus, the maker of the A330 jet involved, said the French statement was a "significant step" in understanding the causes of the crash. |
| 'Inconsistent speeds' | 'Inconsistent speeds' |
| Ahead of Friday's statement, the BEA said it wished to correct "partial and more or less contradictory information published in the media". | Ahead of Friday's statement, the BEA said it wished to correct "partial and more or less contradictory information published in the media". |
| It was giving "factual elements on the operation of the flight that... establish the circumstances of the accident but not the causes". | It was giving "factual elements on the operation of the flight that... establish the circumstances of the accident but not the causes". |
| According to the statement, the twin-engine jet's autopilot and auto-thrust disengaged after it ran into turbulence, and the plane slowed dangerously, climbing to 38,000 ft (11,600m). | |
| Speeds displayed on the left primary flight display were inconsistent with those on the integrated standby instrument system. | Speeds displayed on the left primary flight display were inconsistent with those on the integrated standby instrument system. |
| French investigators have been working on the theory that the speed sensors, known as Pitot probes, malfunctioned because of ice at high altitude. | French investigators have been working on the theory that the speed sensors, known as Pitot probes, malfunctioned because of ice at high altitude. |
| This may have set off an unpredictable chain of events. | This may have set off an unpredictable chain of events. |
| Final minutes | Final minutes |
| The drama began while the captain was taking a routine rest, with the two co-pilots in the cockpit, the BEA said. | The drama began while the captain was taking a routine rest, with the two co-pilots in the cockpit, the BEA said. |
| Summoned to help, however, he was back in the cockpit two minutes and 48 seconds before the crash, it found. | Summoned to help, however, he was back in the cockpit two minutes and 48 seconds before the crash, it found. |
| The BEA statement found the composition of the crew had been "in accordance with the operator's procedures". | The BEA statement found the composition of the crew had been "in accordance with the operator's procedures". |
| Flight AF 447 went down on 1 June 2009 after running into an intense high-altitude thunderstorm, four hours into a flight from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to Paris. | Flight AF 447 went down on 1 June 2009 after running into an intense high-altitude thunderstorm, four hours into a flight from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to Paris. |
| Those on board came from more than 30 countries, though most were French, Brazilian or German. | Those on board came from more than 30 countries, though most were French, Brazilian or German. |
| The wreckage of the plane was discovered after a long search of 10,000 sq km (3,860 sq miles) of sea floor. | The wreckage of the plane was discovered after a long search of 10,000 sq km (3,860 sq miles) of sea floor. |