AF447 WRECKAGE FOUND – BEA

AIRLINEINDUSTRYREVIEW.COM – The French BEA has reported that it has been able to locate previously not-found wreckage of Air France Flight 447 with its fourth search attempt which was launched in March 2011.

The investigators have verified the wreckage as belonging to AF447  ( operated by Airbus A330-200 F-GZCP ) and are confident that they have found the aircraft’s final resting place.

The discovery comes ten days after the launch of the fourth search phase, which the BEA terms is a remarkable achievement.

Various media reports stated that among discovery were, both engines of the aircraft, a portion of the main wing, and – according to some reports – 177 bodies.

The BEA has expressed confidence that they will be able to finally locate the flight data recorders of the mysterious crash which took place in June 2009.

An official BEA press conference is due for 1300 GMT, today.

The fourth search attempt, which follows an unsuccessful third search phase and is financed jointly by Airbus and Air France is only aimed as a locating attempt and retrieval of the debris is set for the fifth search phase.

The Airbus A330-200, operating a flight from Rio De Janeiro to Paris, went missing in the Atlantic Ocean at about 0200GMT on 1 June 2009. There were no survivors and the aircraft’s crash cause is yet to be determined. The last communication from the aircraft, in the form of an ACARS message, was at 0200GMT, indicating loss of cabin pressure and an air speed warning.

Vessel Alucia, the research craft of phase four search

The fourth search attempt, with vessel Alucia began on 25th March, 2011.