. . . if you haven't already read it.
Posted on 08/02/2005 3:34:39 PM PDT by FYREDEUS
Air France says there are no fatalities in the plane crash in Toronto, which happened while flight 358 was attempting to land in a thunderstorm.
The jet burst into flames after skidding off the runway at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.
According to Air France, 297 passengers and 12 crew were aboard the plane.
Steve Shaw, Vice-President of Corporate Affairs for the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, said there are no known fatalities.
"Minor injuries are unconfirmed, but it's something around 14," Shaw told a 6 p.m. ET news conference. Peel Regional Police say a pilot and a number of passengers were taken to hospital.
Sgt. Glyn Griffiths told the Globe and Mail that some injured passengers were seen walking around the crash site.
"A pilot has gone to hospital and they were picked up on the 401 [highway] and a number of other passengers were wandering around the area so we're trying to head them off,'' said Griffiths.
Passenger Oliver Dubos, speaking to CTV's Tom Clark by phone from a nearby emergency room, said that just before the plane was about to land, the lights in the cabin went "all black -- no more lights."
The plane then went off the runway, and the plane was suddenly in the ravine.
"We opened the emergency doors, there were lots of flames, and we just tried to escape," Dubos said. "There was a lot of gas and smoke."
Sgt. Griffiths indicated the aircraft was an Air France jet that was trying to land when it ran into trouble.
"An Air France plane landing on runway 2-4 left went off the end of the runway the area of Convert Drive and the 401 area in Mississauga," said Griffiths. "I haven't got any information on casualties at all."
Air France has not released a statement, but a Montreal ticket agent with the airline told Reuters that the burning plane is an Airbus A340 -- flight AF358 travelling from Paris to Toronto.
Live television pictures showed smoke billowing from the aircraft in a wooded area just metres from Highway 401 -- Canada's busiest highway -- near the airport. A section of the plane's wing could be seen jutting from the trees. Severe storms were hitting the area at the time of the accident, grounding most operations at the airport. Eyewitnesses reported seeing lightning hit the plane before it burst into flames.
Flight AF358 left Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport at 1:32 local time and was due to arrive in Toronto at 4:12 p.m. ET. The airline's A340 planes are generally configured for 252 passenger seats.
Toronto's Pearson airport has been closed to other traffic, with planes diverted to Ottawa and other nearby airports.
Thank God for a true MIRACLE that no lives were lost!
Greta and Larry are deeply saddened.
. . . if you haven't already read it.
Amen,......Infinite Grace and Mercy,.......In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!
RE: "...the burning plane is an Airbus A340 -- ... Eyewitnesses reported seeing lightning hit the plane before it burst into flames."
Well, this will probably raise the issue of the use of composite structures instead of aluminum again.
I'll be really interested to see the results of the crash investigation on this one (I hope the Canucks let the NTSB help on the case).
And I sincerely say thank God that there are some Christians left in Canada. I was really beginning to wonder ... nice to know there are some people of faith in the socialist democracy to the north, Fyredeus.
AMEN!
Greta and Larry saddened? Both are banking on the Halloway case. Did you see swarmy Greta in there home yesterday? Yikes. This woman practically put her um....on the block for OJ's innocence. A plane crash temp. distrupted her otherwise dismal day.
Amen! So glad to hear it, and especially that the pilots survived.
I imagine the passengers were pretty dazed and confused. Can't imagine going through something as scary as that. Guess I'll be listening harder to the safety instructions the next time I fly.
Leni
Incredibly miraculous news!
Question for Freepers who know about aircraft.
I heard they were surmising wind shear, or microburst, but the lights going out just before landing, what does that indicate?
Could they have been struck by lightning?
It wasn't lightning. When the Airbus ran off the runway, it ran into the back of a parked Ford Pinto which promptly exploded causing the Airbus to catch fire.
Was fuel critical? Commercial jets usually land with 45 min. of fuel left. I f fuel was critical, why not diverted to Buffalo?
Wind Shear?
Thank God all made it out OK. I will start paying attention to the plastic card in our company jet (SWA 737) from now on.
Was that a joke? I thought you were serious until the "Pinto" remark registered so now I'm not certain.
Truly a miracle. I pray for all those who were on it/those who are injured. Imagine the families waiting for them in the airport. WOW.
Sigh, I have to get on a bunch of planes VERRRRRY soon. Prayers appreciated.
DOE
You'll be fine...the rate of accidents is SOOOO small...please have fun wherever it is you're going.
But you betcha, I'll pray for ya.
2 witnesses on the ground say lightning hit the plane.
Airbus is fly by wire. There are 7 computers that control everything. All flight controls are only electricaly connected to the computers, not to the control surfaces, or brakes, etc.
If lightning did hit, and it looks that way, the surge would fry the electronics and that fancy airplane is toast. No way to control anything.
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