Air France Airbus - This doesn't look good!

[Blitzen]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8076848.stm

(and i spelt doesn't wrong )

[shadowmaster]

Just read this now, it does not look good

[Infinite]

lol, how do you lose a plane???

[kalniel]

lol, how do you lose a plane???

By it crashing.

[TheAnimus]

lol, how do you lose a plane???

Its the Island!

[schmunk]

lol, how do you lose a plane???

You may wish to reconsider your 'lol'.

[jim]

Nope, planes falling into oceans rarely arise in anything other than 100% fatalities.

Strange that it's taken a while to come down though, perhaps some kind of flight control hydraulics failure mid-flight.

[ixos]

Haven't flown in an aircraft for 15+ years!! Scared stiff. Thats me!

[blueball]

Depends on what they mean by "lost from radar". I doubt they are using a primary skin paint over the Atlantic and may be relying on transponder responses (secondary radar). If the plane had electrical failure then the transponder may not be working - maybe radio too.

Its a long shot but does give some hope.

[Allen]

Its a long shot but does give some hope.

Not when you consider this:

Mr Borloo, the minister in charge of transport, said the plane would already have run out of fuel.

If there are any survivors it will be a miracle.

[Blitzen]

Depends on what they mean by "lost from radar". I doubt they are using a primary skin paint over the Atlantic and may be relying on transponder responses (secondary radar). If the plane had electrical failure then the transponder may not be working - maybe radio too.

Its a long shot but does give some hope.

It would rely on transponder responses.
Unfortunately though, if that were the case, the plane would've run out of fuel 4 hours ago making the outcome the same.

[kalniel]

Depends on what they mean by "lost from radar". I doubt they are using a primary skin paint over the Atlantic and may be relying on transponder responses (secondary radar). If the plane had electrical failure then the transponder may not be working - maybe radio too.

Its a long shot but does give some hope.

Then it would have landed some time ago and phoned ahead.

[hitman67]

Hope they find it quickly!

[shaithis]

0200 GMT: The aircraft crossed through a "thunderous zone with strong turbulence" according to an Air France statement.

0214 GMT: According to the airline, an automated message was received indicating an "electrical circuit malfunction" on board.

0715 GMT: Air France decided "the situation was serious", according to the airline's chief executive Pierre Henri Gourgeon. Plans to establish a crisis centre are drawn up.




5 hours from receiving the fault message to admitting something was wrong?

Is that par for the course?

[Flash477]

If the wind was causing big waves then the chances of ditching intact are very low, even with a relativy calm sea the odds are brilliant

But yeah, I missed that. Why wait 5 hours before doing anything? I wonder if that was how long it would have taken to reach the nearest land?

[Guy]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6406338.ece

Looks like it was hit by lightning.