Description

On 1 June 2009, an Airbus A330-200 (F-GZCP) being operated by Air France on a scheduled passenger flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris CDG as A447 with a crew of three pilots and in the cruise at FL 350 at night and in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) became overdue en route and when wreckage was found five days later on the sea surface on track from the last known position, it became clear that aircraft had crashed into the sea with the loss of the aircraft and all 228 occupants. The aircraft had not been within radar cover or VHF R/T range at the time and was reliant on HF radio communications with the controlling ACC. No distress or other radio calls were heard by any other aircraft or any ATC agency.

Investigation

Since the loss of the aircraft occurred over International Waters, it was investigated by the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA) as State of the Operator and State of the Manufacturer. Indications that erroneous airspeed displays had occurred were obtained from Aircraft Communications, Addressing and Reporting System maintenance messages which had been transmitted automatically at the time. The floating wreckage retrieved in the days following the disappearance suggested to the Investigation that control of the aircraft had been lost prior to sea surface impact. A long period involving sea search in demanding deep water conditions then elapsed before the site of the principal wreckage on the sea bed was located and significant pieces of it and the crash protected recorded data units carried by the aircraft recovered.