Brazil (AP) — Search crews recovered the vertical stabilizer from the tail section of an Air France jetliner that went down in the Atlantic, Brazil’s air force said Monday – a key item in finding the cause of the crash. Eight more bodies also were found, bringing the total recovered to 24 since Air France Flight 447 disappeared with 228 people on board, according to Air Force Col. Henry Munhoz.
The discoveries of debris and the bodies are all helping searchers narrow their search for the jet’s black boxes, perhaps investigators best hope of learning what happened to the flight.
Brazilian military officials have refused to detail the large pieces of the plane they have found. But a video on the Brazilian air force Web site entitled “Vertical Stabilizer Found” shows video of the piece – which keeps the plane’s nose from swinging from side to side – being located and tethered to a ship. The part had Air France’s blue-and-red stripes, retained its triangular shape and bore no evident burn marks. full AP article home
