The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-06-30

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Yemen Plane Crashes in Indian Ocean

A Yemen airliner with 153 people aboard, among them 3 children, crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros archipelago. The Airbus 310 flight IY626, operated by Yemeni carrier Yemenia Air, was flying from the Yemeni capital Sanaa to Moroni. So far there is no information about the cause behind the crash and survivors. The plane was carrying 142 passengers and 11 crew members, whose majority were French and Comoro nationals. According to airport officials the control tower had received notification the plane was coming into land and then lost contact. Reports say that the first debris has been spotted.

Lost Contact with Control Tower

A United Nations official at the airport, who declined to be named, said the control tower had received notification the plane was coming into land, and then lost contact with it.

It is believed that the plane crashed near Mitsamiouli, a town on the main island Grand Comore said Indi Nanthoim vice-president of Comoros.

"We still do not have information about the reason behind the crash or survivors," said Mohammad al-Sumairi, deputy general manager for Yemenia operations. Yemenia Air is 51 % owned by the Yemeni government and 49% owned by the Saudi Arabian government.

"The weather conditions were rough; strong wind and high seas. The wind speed recorded on land at the airport was 61 km an hour. There could be other factors," Yemenia official Mohammad al-Sumairi said.

A search is under way, with the French military assisting with the operation. Interior Minister Hamid Bourhane told Reuters the army had sent small speedboats to an area between the village of Ntsaoueni and the airport.

This is the second air tragedy this month involving large numbers of French citizens. On 1 June an Air France Airbus 330 travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris plunged into the Atlantic, killing all 228 people on board. In 1996, a hijacked Ethiopian airliner came down in the same area - most of the 175 passengers and crew were killed.

News item: 24232

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article