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Sarkozy: Chance of Finding Jet Survivors 'Very Small'

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 1, 2009 2:51 PM CDT

(Newser) – A missing Air France jet hit thunderstorms over the Atlantic, likely crashing and killing all 228 people on board, the AP reports. Half an hour after falling out of Brazilian radio contact, the Airbus A330 "crossed through a thunderous zone with strong turbulence”; Nicolas Sarkozy told families of those aboard that "prospects of finding survivors were very small."

"At the altitude it was flying, it's possible that the Air France plane flew directly into the most charged part of the storm—the top," said a meteorologist. Another expert added that, contrary to previous reports, lightning likely wouldn’t be strong enough to bring the plane down.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, with Minister in charge of Transports Jean-Louis Borloo, left, addresses reporters at a crisis meeting at Charles de Gaulle airport Monday June 1, 2009.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right, with Minister in charge of Transports Jean-Louis Borloo, left, addresses reporters at a crisis meeting at Charles de Gaulle airport Monday June 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Guillaume Baptiste, Pool)
This March 2009 shows Air France Airbus A330-200 with the tail number F-GZCB. An Air France Airbus A330-200 with the same tail number carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro to Paris is missing.
This March 2009 shows Air France Airbus A330-200 with the tail number F-GZCB. An Air France Airbus A330-200 with the same tail number carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro to Paris is missing.   (AP Photo/BangaloreAviation.com, Devesh Agarwal)
Relatives of passengers of the Air France flight 447, which was reported missing on its way between Rio de Janeiro and Paris, arrive to the Windsor Hotel to wait for information, in Rio de Janeiro.
Relatives of passengers of the Air France flight 447, which was reported missing on its way between Rio de Janeiro and Paris, arrive to the Windsor Hotel to wait for information, in Rio de Janeiro.   (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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