Yemenia Airline Airbus A310 Crashes in Indian Ocean Near Comoros Islands

The Yemenia airline Airbus A310 crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands on June 29, 2009, resulting in the loss of 142 passengers and 11 crew members. The plane, carrying 66 French citizens, had departed from Paris and Marseille, France, and was headed to Moroni in the Comoros. The crash occurred just a month after an Air France Airbus A330 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean while flying from Brazil, killing 228 passengers.

Key Takeaways:

• The Yemenia airline Airbus A310 crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands on June 29, 2009, with 142 passengers and 11 crew members on board.
• The plane was carrying 66 French citizens, including 40 who boarded in Paris and 26 in Marseille.
• The aircraft was an Airbus A310-300, according to the airline's website.
• The control tower in the Comoros did all it could to help the plane, but was unable to prevent the crash.
• French transport secretary Dominique Bussereau confirmed that bad weather might have caused the crash.
• Two battalions from the French national marines were sent to the Comoros to assist in the investigation and recovery efforts.
• A Yemeni official stated that the aircraft failed to land on its first attempt and was about to try a second time when it crashed.

Statistics:

• 142 passengers and 11 crew members on board the crashed plane.
• 66 French citizens on board the plane.
• 40 French citizens boarded the plane in Paris.
• 26 French citizens boarded the plane in Marseille.
• 2 battalions from the French national marines sent to the Comoros to assist in the investigation and recovery efforts.

Sources:

• Infos Plus Gabon/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX
• Europe 1 television channel
• Yemenia airline website
• AllAfrica.com