Air France Mystery Continues

It’s been called a “mystery”, a “riddle,” and a ”puzzle.”

We’re talking about what happened to Air France flight AF447 that crashed off the coast of Brazil on June 1.

There are still no answers as to what happened.

But that hasn’t stopped coverage and curiosity about the disaster that claimed the lives of 228 passengers of 33 nationalities.

We’re looking at the variety of angles the media is taking on this tragedy.

Like a number of news outlets, Germany’s Bild has focused its coverage on finding the plane’s flight data recorder – its black box.

“With no surviving eyewitnesses and no emergency call from the pilot, the black box is the only way to discover exactly what happened to the Airbus A330 and its victims as it disappeared whilst en route from Paris to Rio de Janeiro.” (Bild)

But, Condé Nast Traveler editor and Daily Beast contributor Clive Irving says we shouldn’t rely so much on black boxes for answers.

Interviewed on CNN, Irving says instead we should be looking at new systems that upload data – like the one that sent out those 24 automatic error messages before the flight crashed.

“This is the first time that this kind of information has become available which points to the fact that there is a parallel technology waiting to be employed. The information highway is already there in the sky by the satellites that you upload this information to. All we need to do now is improve the messenger, that’s the system on the plane that collects all the data and sends it out.” (CNN)

Writing in The Atlantic, James Fallows says its airplanes’ weather instruments that need to be improved.

He quotes a pilot as saying that most people have better access to weather information on their home computers than those flying planes do:

“If any good can come of this accident I hope it will lead to a discussion and implementation of better weather resources for the airline industry. I'm proud of what we do and our overall safety record but this is one area where we could make great advances.” (The Atlantic)

A man identified only as “Jonathan” whose friend was killed in the crash says don’t forget those who died amid all the chatter about its cause.

He created an Air France Flight 447 Web site that includes a live Twitter feed, videos, news headlines from around the world and stories about crash victims:

“We are all affected one way or another when something tragic like this happens. My heart goes out to the friends and family members who have been affected by this tragedy.” (AirFrance447.com)