Well now that you mention a collapse of a major structure in France.... and we know who is in France...
enough said...
Posted on 05/23/2004 4:12:44 PM PDT by lasereye
ROISSY,France (AP) -- The vaulted roof of the new, showcase terminal at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport - touted as a jewel of design, safety and comfort - collapsed early Sunday, killing at least five people and forcing authorities to revisit problems that preceded the fanfare opening of Terminal 2E less than a year ago.
There were some cracking sounds and some dust, and then tons of concrete, steel and glass came crashing down on a waiting area inside the gleaming terminal. The 98-foot section of roof fell just before 7 a.m. as passengers were starting to arrive.
Officials said there was no sign a terror attack caused the collapse. Of those confirmed dead, one was Chinese and the other four also were apparently foreigners, said Michel Clerel, chief doctor of Aeroports de Paris, which runs the airport.
Rescue workers sent dogs to sniff for victims buried under the pile of twisted steel, boulders of concrete and shattered glass. Officials said there might also be a sixth person killed, and that the victims were probably passengers.
The chief doctor also said three people were injured - all of them police called to the scene when signs of trouble appeared.
"Witnesses heard a cracking and noticed cracks in the ceiling and saw dust falling," said Pierre Graff, president of Aeroports de Paris. "They, of course, ran away. Police arrived and began evacuating people."
Within about two to three minutes, the roof collapsed, said Rene Brun, director of Charles de Gaulle.
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An Air France flight had arrived from Newark, N.J., just ahead of the collapse and another from Johannesburg, South Africa. A third plane was taking off for Prague. Michel Sappin, prefect for the Seine-Saint-Denis region, where Roissy is located north of Paris, said there was only a moderate number of passengers in the terminal at the early hour.
"It looks pretty bad out there," said Amy Haight, 30, arriving later from Houston with her husband, Nelson, for a friend's wedding. She said she saw the collapsed building and dozens of rescue vehicles as her plane landed. "It's so sad, it's so scary. My God, we're so lucky."
The futuristic, cylindrical terminal sits on pylons, and when the roof fell it pulled down outer walls and crashed through a boarding ramp onto several parked cars below.
President Jacques Chirac asked that investigators quickly determine the cause of the collapse. Two separate probes were being opened. Transport Minister Gilles de Robien said there was nothing to indicate a terrorist attack.
The terminal, a tunnel-shaped construction that is hundreds of yards long, was evacuated and immediately shut down, delaying scores of flights. The terminal mainly serves Air France.
"The consequences are obviously grave for us since we have to manage the movement of planes with one less terminal, grave in terms of image since this was our showcase jewel," said Pierre Graff, president of Aeroports de Paris, which runs Paris' airports.
The tragedy comes as France braces for the influx of summer tourists.
The $890 million terminal, with slots for 17 aircraft, opened to the public last June 25 after at least two construction delays. The French television station LCI said the delays were caused by safety issues.
Also, a huge light fixture fell in the departure area as inspectors were checking the facility before its opening, and there were leaks in the ceiling, said Brun, the airport director.
Still, he and other officials said the problems were not structural. "There were never signs of cracks or other major abnormalities," Brun said.
The terminal was designed for a capacity of 10 million passengers per year. Its distinctive vaulted ceiling is honeycombed with hundreds of square windows that bathe the area inside with sunlight.
Hundreds of rescue workers rushed to the scene and temporary hospitals were set up on the tarmac and inside the terminal.
"We're working in extremely difficult conditions," said Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin, adding that earthquake-style rescue operations were used in combing through rubble for victims.
,,, can you point to any records or statistics involving AIRBUS safety inadequacies?
bump
You can take your love for AIRBUS and stick it where the sun doen't shine! OK? I don't ride on ANYTHING the French build! ANYTHING!!!
,,, gee, an assumption that I have a love for AIRBUS. No, you're incorrect with that too. I've flown on them and they rattle and shudder more than BOEINGs. All I was asking for was something to back up your statement. Give me all the abuse you want - I've been insulted by experts and I'm still standing. Now, once you've settled down, realise that I wouldn't ask you to fly on an AIRBUS, a BOEING, a SHORT, a Fokker or anything else. I would welcome your opinion though, either way, as long as it's based on fact.
Fokker??!??!?!?!! i dont even know her. i'm offended.
LOL!!
Maybe the designer is in cahoots with the guy who designed the clinton library (double-wide).
Did they surrender yet?
Freepers are a mature lot. How do I know this? Almost thirty posts, and no Michael Moore jokes...
I heard J F'n Kerry was gonna ask them to rebuild the terminal in Baghdad. But I guess that will have to wait.
Well now that you mention a collapse of a major structure in France.... and we know who is in France...
enough said...
The french build better cars than us. I'd much rather drive a Renault Clio Sport than anything coming out of Detroit.
Good for you! I won't touch ANYTHING made in France.
More fool you
Too bad (for George III) General Washington did not boycott French ships, weapons and other products...
The Statue of Liberty was made in France...
And she is still standung! AMAZING considering who built her. Look, it is your right to love the French if you wish but this is one American who will NEVER forget what France did to help us with Iraq. NOTHING! I won't buy or patronize ANYTHING French!
So, should we crate `er up and ship `er back?
Or, do we keep her so you can spit on her in your hatred for all things French?
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