France To Resume Black Box Hunt

French accident investigators say they will begin a 3rd search for the black boxes of an Air France plane that crashed off the coast of Brazil.

The Airbus A330 crashed in a storm en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on 01 June, killing all 228 people on board.

The head of the French investigation agency, Jean-Paul Troadec, announced the move in Rio de Janeiro after meeting relatives of the dead.

The search of the Atlantic Ocean is not due to begin until February 2010.

The cause of the accident is still unknown although investigators believe the plane's speed sensors had been "a factor" involved in the crash.

Mr Troadec was in Brazil to brief relatives about the current stage of the investigation before a new report into the crash is published in Paris next week.

"We tried to convince the families that we are conducting the investigation with the full intention of getting to the truth," he said.

He said a number of experts - including some from the US Navy and National Transportation Safety Board - would assist in the new search for cockpit audio and data recorders.

Private contractors will also be hired to help.

He said the searches would take place over a three-month span about 1,000km (600 miles) off Brazil's north-east coast.

Investigators will use sonar and robot submarines. However, they say the search will be challenging as ocean depths where the plane went down reach about 7,000m (22,950ft).

Maarten Van Sluys, one of the relatives that Mr Troadec met, said the renewed search was welcome but it was important to remember that 178 bodies had yet to be recovered.

He said: "We have expectations of recovering these remains and giving them a dignified burial."

Mr Troadec said the forthcoming report contained no surprises but would highlight new details, "notably in terms of safety recommendations".

The crash was the worst disaster in the 75-year history of Air France.

France To Resume Black Box Hunt

French accident investigators say they will begin a 3rd search for the black boxes of an Air France plane that crashed off the coast of Brazil.

The Airbus A330 crashed in a storm en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on 01 June, killing all 228 people on board.

The head of the French investigation agency, Jean-Paul Troadec, announced the move in Rio de Janeiro after meeting relatives of the dead.

The search of the Atlantic Ocean is not due to begin until February 2010.

The cause of the accident is still unknown although investigators believe the plane's speed sensors had been "a factor" involved in the crash.

Mr Troadec was in Brazil to brief relatives about the current stage of the investigation before a new report into the crash is published in Paris next week.

"We tried to convince the families that we are conducting the investigation with the full intention of getting to the truth," he said.

He said a number of experts - including some from the US Navy and National Transportation Safety Board - would assist in the new search for cockpit audio and data recorders.

Private contractors will also be hired to help.

He said the searches would take place over a three-month span about 1,000km (600 miles) off Brazil's north-east coast.

Investigators will use sonar and robot submarines. However, they say the search will be challenging as ocean depths where the plane went down reach about 7,000m (22,950ft).

Maarten Van Sluys, one of the relatives that Mr Troadec met, said the renewed search was welcome but it was important to remember that 178 bodies had yet to be recovered.

He said: "We have expectations of recovering these remains and giving them a dignified burial."

Mr Troadec said the forthcoming report contained no surprises but would highlight new details, "notably in terms of safety recommendations".

The crash was the worst disaster in the 75-year history of Air France.

France To Resume Black Box Hunt

French accident investigators say they will begin a 3rd search for the black boxes of an Air France plane that crashed off the coast of Brazil.

The Airbus A330 crashed in a storm en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on 01 June, killing all 228 people on board.

The head of the French investigation agency, Jean-Paul Troadec, announced the move in Rio de Janeiro after meeting relatives of the dead.

The search of the Atlantic Ocean is not due to begin until February 2010.

The cause of the accident is still unknown although investigators believe the plane's speed sensors had been "a factor" involved in the crash.

Mr Troadec was in Brazil to brief relatives about the current stage of the investigation before a new report into the crash is published in Paris next week.

"We tried to convince the families that we are conducting the investigation with the full intention of getting to the truth," he said.

He said a number of experts - including some from the US Navy and National Transportation Safety Board - would assist in the new search for cockpit audio and data recorders.

Private contractors will also be hired to help.

He said the searches would take place over a three-month span about 1,000km (600 miles) off Brazil's north-east coast.

Investigators will use sonar and robot submarines. However, they say the search will be challenging as ocean depths where the plane went down reach about 7,000m (22,950ft).

Maarten Van Sluys, one of the relatives that Mr Troadec met, said the renewed search was welcome but it was important to remember that 178 bodies had yet to be recovered.

He said: "We have expectations of recovering these remains and giving them a dignified burial."

Mr Troadec said the forthcoming report contained no surprises but would highlight new details, "notably in terms of safety recommendations".

The crash was the worst disaster in the 75-year history of Air France.

bruce smith

bruce smith



Smith, Woodson among six entering NFL Hall of Fame
Superstar defenders Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson were among six men inducted into the American Football Hall of Fame at enshirement ceremonies here at the sporting honor shrine.

Also inducted Saturday were Bills owner Ralph Wilson, guard Randall McDaniel and two posthumous honorees - linebacker Derrick Thomas and receiver Bob Hayes. That boosts the number of people in the Hall of Fame to 253.

Smith, the long-time Buffalo Bills defensive end, is the National Football League's all-time quarterback sack leaders with 200 and was twice named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Smith played for 18 seasons.

"I have come full circle," Smith said. "This induction into the Hall of Fame marks my passage into football's immortality."

Woodson played for four teams in 17 NFL seasons but made his fame in a decade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He intercepted 71 passes and returned them for NFL career records of 1,483 yards and 12 touchdowns.

"It's an honor. I thought about what I was going to say, but to be on this stage, it's a whirlwind," Woodson said. "It's more than putting on the jacket -- it's being part of the elite team of pro football. I'm very humbled."

McDaniel was an All-Star blocker in 12 of his 14 NFL seasons while Wilson helped found the American Football League half a century ago, leading to a 1970 merger that created the modern NFL.

Thomas, who made an NFL record seven sacks in one game, died in a car accident in 2000 at age 33.

Hayes, who won two gold medals in athletics at the 1964 Olympics, spent 11 seasons in the NFL living up to the nickname "Bullet Bob". He caught 371 passes for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns. He died in 2002 at age 59.

bruce smith

bruce smith



Smith, Woodson among six entering NFL Hall of Fame
Superstar defenders Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson were among six men inducted into the American Football Hall of Fame at enshirement ceremonies here at the sporting honor shrine.

Also inducted Saturday were Bills owner Ralph Wilson, guard Randall McDaniel and two posthumous honorees - linebacker Derrick Thomas and receiver Bob Hayes. That boosts the number of people in the Hall of Fame to 253.

Smith, the long-time Buffalo Bills defensive end, is the National Football League's all-time quarterback sack leaders with 200 and was twice named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Smith played for 18 seasons.

"I have come full circle," Smith said. "This induction into the Hall of Fame marks my passage into football's immortality."

Woodson played for four teams in 17 NFL seasons but made his fame in a decade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He intercepted 71 passes and returned them for NFL career records of 1,483 yards and 12 touchdowns.

"It's an honor. I thought about what I was going to say, but to be on this stage, it's a whirlwind," Woodson said. "It's more than putting on the jacket -- it's being part of the elite team of pro football. I'm very humbled."

McDaniel was an All-Star blocker in 12 of his 14 NFL seasons while Wilson helped found the American Football League half a century ago, leading to a 1970 merger that created the modern NFL.

Thomas, who made an NFL record seven sacks in one game, died in a car accident in 2000 at age 33.

Hayes, who won two gold medals in athletics at the 1964 Olympics, spent 11 seasons in the NFL living up to the nickname "Bullet Bob". He caught 371 passes for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns. He died in 2002 at age 59.

bruce smith

bruce smith



Smith, Woodson among six entering NFL Hall of Fame
Superstar defenders Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson were among six men inducted into the American Football Hall of Fame at enshirement ceremonies here at the sporting honor shrine.

Also inducted Saturday were Bills owner Ralph Wilson, guard Randall McDaniel and two posthumous honorees - linebacker Derrick Thomas and receiver Bob Hayes. That boosts the number of people in the Hall of Fame to 253.

Smith, the long-time Buffalo Bills defensive end, is the National Football League's all-time quarterback sack leaders with 200 and was twice named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Smith played for 18 seasons.

"I have come full circle," Smith said. "This induction into the Hall of Fame marks my passage into football's immortality."

Woodson played for four teams in 17 NFL seasons but made his fame in a decade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He intercepted 71 passes and returned them for NFL career records of 1,483 yards and 12 touchdowns.

"It's an honor. I thought about what I was going to say, but to be on this stage, it's a whirlwind," Woodson said. "It's more than putting on the jacket -- it's being part of the elite team of pro football. I'm very humbled."

McDaniel was an All-Star blocker in 12 of his 14 NFL seasons while Wilson helped found the American Football League half a century ago, leading to a 1970 merger that created the modern NFL.

Thomas, who made an NFL record seven sacks in one game, died in a car accident in 2000 at age 33.

Hayes, who won two gold medals in athletics at the 1964 Olympics, spent 11 seasons in the NFL living up to the nickname "Bullet Bob". He caught 371 passes for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns. He died in 2002 at age 59.