Interim Report on Air France Flight AF447 Accident (F-GZCP)

Investigation Overview and Initial Findings The Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) issued an interim report regarding the accident involving Air France Flight AF447. The investigation was launched after the aircraft, an Airbus A330-203 registered as F-GZCP, failed to make contact with air traffic control. The report was prepared based on initial information gathered, noting that the absence of wreckage and flight recorders at the time of publication prevented a full description of the accident's circumstances. ## Flight History and Disappearance On May 31, 2009, Flight AF447 departed from Rio de Janeiro Galeão airport for Paris Charles de Gaulle. The aircraft carried 12 crew members and 216 passengers. The flight took off at 22:29 UTC with a takeoff weight of 232.8 tonnes. The crew maintained contact with various air traffic control centers, including the ATLANTICO center, until 01:35 UTC. After passing the INTOL reporting point, the crew provided estimated times for subsequent waypoints. Following a series of unanswered requests for an estimated time at the TASIL point, no further contact was established with the crew. ## Search and Recovery Efforts The BEA was alerted to the disappearance on June 1, 2009, at approximately 07:45 UTC. In accordance with international aviation regulations, the BEA led the technical investigation with participation from accredited representatives of Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Observers from several other countries were also included due to the nationality of the victims. Search operations were coordinated with judicial authorities, and the French and Brazilian navies began recovering bodies and aircraft parts from the Atlantic Ocean starting on June 6, 2009.