France/Brazil - AF447

Three more bodies found at site of crash

Article published on the 2009-06-07 Latest update 2009-06-07 14:38 TU

A view from the window of a Brazilian Air Force plane showing a piece of debris from flight 447
(Credit: Reuters)

A Brazilian air force spokesman said Sunday that three more bodies had been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean at the site of the Air France flight 447 crash on 1 June, bringing the number of recovered bodies to five. He added that other bodies were also spotted amidst the wreckage of the Rio de Janiero to Paris flight that crashed with 228 people aboard. Officials have declared that there were no survivors.

Debris, including plane seats, part of the wing and luggage were among the various items found, Brazilian Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Henry Munhoz said. The items were found 450 kilometres northeast of the Fernando de Noronha islands.

Munhoz was speaking from the northereastern city of Recife, where he said all bodies would be taken for identification. "Details of the (personal) items collected will be divulged to the relatives and only to the relatives," said Munhoz.

"The state of the bodies will not be divulged," he added.

Relatives of those aboard have already given DNA samples to help identify their family members.

French investigators said Saturday that the plane suffered multiple systems failures in its final moments, adding that speed monitors had failed on other Airbus planes in the past.

They added that flight 447 had sent 24 automatic error messages before the crash. The autopilot also disengaged after senors gave conflicting speed readings.