Brazil/France

Setback in search for AF447 in mid-Atlantic

Article published on the 2009-06-05 Latest update 2009-06-05 14:37 TU

The slick in the Atlantic thought to be jet kerosene from AF447, proves to be boat oil.
(Photo: Reuters/Brazilian Air Force)

Authorities in Brazil have said that debris found floating in the Atlantic is not from Air France flight 447 which disappeared during a storm on Monday. The Brazilian military found a luggage pallet and two buoys on Wednesday, promoting the belief it had come from the plane

Investigators have now said they believe the debris found by the Brazilian army in the Atlantic ocean was not part of the jet, and that it came from a fishing vessel.

The air and sea search for any trace of the plane or of the 228 people on board continues for a fifth day.

While unusual air conditions were recorded in the zone where the plane is believed to crashed, the reasons for the disappearance of the plane are still unknown.

The news prompted France's Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau to urge "extreme prudence" about suspected debris found in the ocean. Bussereau told RTL radio on Friday that the search for the plane should continue and said that the priority was finding the flight recorders or black boxes.

Meanwhile, European planemaker Airbus has issued an advisory to all operators of the A330 reminding them of how to handle the plane in conditions similar to those experienced by flight 447.

Flight AF447 four hours into a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris when the Airbus 330 went missing with 228 people on board.

l