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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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6

Broken Bones Suggest Flight 447 Broke Up in Midair

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(AP) – Bodies recovered in the Air France disaster show multiple fractures in the legs, hips, and arms, a Brazilian official said today. Experts said such injuries suggest the plane broke up in the air, and a spokesman for Brazilian medical examiners said autopsies on some of the 50 bodies recovered so far showed the fractures.

A Brazilian newspaper today also said some of the victims were found with little or no clothing, citing unnamed investigators. One former accident investigator added that "in an in-air break up like we are supposing here, the clothes are just torn away. Getting ejected into that kind of windstream is like hitting a brick wall—even if they stay in their seats, it is a crushing effect. Most of them were long dead before they hit the water would be my guess."

A boat approaches a piece of debris believed to be part of Air France Flight 447.
A boat approaches a piece of debris believed to be part of Air France Flight 447.   (AP Photo)
Workers unload debris from crashed Air France Flight 447 on Sunday in Recife, Brazil.
Workers unload debris from crashed Air France Flight 447 on Sunday in Recife, Brazil.   (AP Photo)
Workers unload debris from crashed Air France Flight 447 on Sunday in Recife, Brazil.
Workers unload debris from crashed Air France Flight 447 on Sunday in Recife, Brazil.   (AP Photo)
Workers unload debris, belonging to crashed Air France flight 447, from the Brazilian Navy's Constitution Frigate in the port of Recife, northeast of Brazil, Sunday, June 14, 2009. A burst of last-minute automatic messages sent by Air France Flight 447 includes one about a problem with a rudder safety device...
Workers unload debris, belonging to crashed Air France flight 447, from the Brazilian Navy's Constitution Frigate in the port of Recife, northeast of Brazil, Sunday, June 14, 2009. A burst of last-minute...   (AP Photo)
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6 comments
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Timinator2K
Jun 17, 09 1:55 PM CDT
Amazingly, in the US, this tragedy plays out in the equivalent of 160 times per year in equivalent traffic crash deaths. And that's a vast improvement over the 50,000 road deaths a year in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Reply
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Caps
Jun 17, 09 1:59 PM CDT
This is so sad for their families. Can't imagine the fear these poor people had. Reply
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+1
Reader39895947
Jun 17, 09 2:20 PM CDT
Don't fly on planes with plastic rudders! Reply
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0
ultramagnus21
Jun 17, 09 3:51 PM CDT
People have to realize how isolated plane crashes truly are. It isn't fair that Air France will have to suffer because of this. Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 17, 09 5:41 PM CDT
I'm giving up flying as soon as I can and cut my potential losses. I can't wait for the subterranean tunnel to Europe. Reply
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