Brazil Air Tragedy Sparks New Round of Recriminations
By VOA News
19 July 2007
Police officers carry remains of victims from the crash of a TAM airlines commercial jet in Sao Paulo, 18 July 2007
Police officers carry remains of victims from the crash of a TAM airlines commercial jet in Sao Paulo, 18 July 2007
Recovery efforts continue Thursday at the site of Tuesday's horrific jetliner crash in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as critics denounce the government for failing to improve safety conditions at the Congonhas airport.
Authorities say rescue workers have recovered at least 170 bodies from the crash site, as well as the plane's so-called "black box" flight data recorders. All of the 186 passengers and crew on board the Airbus A320 jetliner were killed, as well as three people on the ground. Five people are missing, while 11 others are hospitalized.
The plane, owned by Brazil's TAM airlines, skidded off a rain-slicked runway, slammed into a gas station and a terminal owned by TAM, and exploded. Aviation experts have criticized the runway at Congonhas as being too short for large planes landing in rainy weather.
The runway was resurfaced just last month, but workers still needed to build deep grooves into it to allow water drainage.
The crash has reignited scrutiny of Brazil's aviation system, which initially came under fire after 154 people were killed last September when a Brazilian passenger plane collided with a small executive jet and crashed into the Amazon jungle. The executive jet landed safely.
Brazilian lawmakers have been investigating the country's civil aviation system, which observers say is plagued by a lack of funding. Flight controllers have gone on strike to protest poor working conditions and inadequate equipment.
Brazil's minister of institutional relations Walfrido dos Mares Guia says aviation officials are expected to quickly inform the government about the cause of the crash and safety measures that may be needed.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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By VOA News
19 July 2007
Police officers carry remains of victims from the crash of a TAM airlines commercial jet in Sao Paulo, 18 July 2007
Police officers carry remains of victims from the crash of a TAM airlines commercial jet in Sao Paulo, 18 July 2007
Recovery efforts continue Thursday at the site of Tuesday's horrific jetliner crash in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as critics denounce the government for failing to improve safety conditions at the Congonhas airport.
Authorities say rescue workers have recovered at least 170 bodies from the crash site, as well as the plane's so-called "black box" flight data recorders. All of the 186 passengers and crew on board the Airbus A320 jetliner were killed, as well as three people on the ground. Five people are missing, while 11 others are hospitalized.
The plane, owned by Brazil's TAM airlines, skidded off a rain-slicked runway, slammed into a gas station and a terminal owned by TAM, and exploded. Aviation experts have criticized the runway at Congonhas as being too short for large planes landing in rainy weather.
The runway was resurfaced just last month, but workers still needed to build deep grooves into it to allow water drainage.
The crash has reignited scrutiny of Brazil's aviation system, which initially came under fire after 154 people were killed last September when a Brazilian passenger plane collided with a small executive jet and crashed into the Amazon jungle. The executive jet landed safely.
Brazilian lawmakers have been investigating the country's civil aviation system, which observers say is plagued by a lack of funding. Flight controllers have gone on strike to protest poor working conditions and inadequate equipment.
Brazil's minister of institutional relations Walfrido dos Mares Guia says aviation officials are expected to quickly inform the government about the cause of the crash and safety measures that may be needed.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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