This must hit home for you, Donna. The report I just read on MSNBC said the plane was likely struck by lightning. Terrible to imagine.

My route is Chicago-London and I'm over the Atlantic weekly. I do think about it especially at night. My sister just went on a 24 day cruise through Europe. When I heard about this flight my stomach sank. She was on British Air. I feel so sorry for the passengers families.
Donna

I'm a little disappointed by the amount of posters who have responded to this post. 228 people may have lost their lives. Susan Boyle's hospitalization gets a tremeandous response and this post is dropping to the bottom of the page. Maybe you don't know what to say. I hope that's the reason for the low response.

Donna

Yeah, Donna. I think that's what is probably going on. Some stories are just too depressing to talk about, and there's really nothing to gossip about so to say. When I read this story on Yahoo News it upset me so that I almost couldn't finish reading it. It's so tragic. I'm sure people appreciate you posting it; they just don't know what to say. I find it's the sensational stories people usually like to talk about not always the real news.

I just now got on here and hadn't listened to any news this morning. I can't imagine what's going on in the minds and hearts of the families. My prayers go out to all.

Shirley

I just found out that the plane didn't land at it's usual time so the worst is to be expected now.

I feel sick also, especially after I was 'bragging' that our country is usually an emergency stop for planes that are in trouble and flying over the Atlantic. If only...

Also, I feel for all those involved - the families of the passengers, the employees of the Airline and right now for the people of France.

This is the first I've heard of it - what a terrible loss. I've been out pruning bushes and hauling the debris to the curb since 6 this morning because today the township does it's once a month brush pickup.

I just looked for more information online but there's few details at this time. Tragedies on this scale are so senseless and difficult to handle, they just leave me with a sick, helpless feeling.

Thank you for the replies.
This story really hits home and especially because my sister just flew to Europe yesterday. She is my only family and I can't imagine if that had been her flight. I just feel so bad for those people.
donna

That is so sad. Thanks for letting us know about it Donna. I haven't had the tv or radio on today so hadn't heard about it.

Donna - I absolutely agree that this far surpasses the Susan Boyle discussion. I don't think, though, that the comparatively few responses here indicates that people don't care. Other than expressing sadness at the likely outcome, there's really not much to say yet. We know that the plane was hit by lightening and experienced electrical problems. It's horrible and we're all awaiting further word, hoping for a miracle. We just can't compare an entertainment-oriented thread that is full of opinions to one where there's little known yet and the horror and concern is on everyone's mind.

I keep checking back on cnn.com for updates to the story, but none so far. Miracles do happen, and I am praying for the passengers and crew on this plane that one will happen today.

Suzieque

I think of the lack of response in no way indicates that people don't care. After reading this post the first time, I immediately went out to read the news accounts.

There's not much to say other than I hope that by some miracle they landed safely (which I know is highly unlikely, even impossible) and to send my best thoughts to the families...

Very sad.

I really feel terrible when I hear this kind of news since my daughter flies overseas so frequently Those poor people and their families need our prayers.

This doesn't make sense to me. It crashed about 3 hours prior to it's scheduled landing. Usually turbulence and lightening doesn't bring a plane down. I pray that this was not a bomb.
Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: Details

I haven't watched the news either and am just reading the thread. My heart goes out to all the families involved.

So sad.

I just watched a news update and the thoughts are that the plane suffered a direct lightening hit.

What a terrible tragedy.

Just got home from working this morning and this is the first I've heard about it. How awful!

I jsut saw this post. I can't imagine what those poor families are going through. Please keep us posted if you hear any news. SInce I am at work I don't have access to the tv or radio.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

I'll go put on CNN or MSNBC, they probably have word on this tragedy. DH thinks it happened over The Bermuda Triangle.

I'm at work today, and hadn't heard about the missing jet until I read your post, Donna. I am so sorry to hear about this and thankful that your sister is safe.

I just read that on MSN. Mind boggling. You just don't even want to think about such a catastrophe being possible. So I cannot imagine the suffering of the families who now HAVE to think about it and nothing else.

My good friend and her family left Saturday for a trans-Atlantic flight. They spend summers with family. I worry about them and am glad to hear from them every time. Not just the flight, though, they go to the middle east.

I really doubt it was from lightening or turbulence, that just doesn't happen at cruise. I hate to say it but I feel that it was from an explosion. This scares me a lot more than mechanical problems.
Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: News

Donna I also have thoughts of something else besides thunder or turbulance, as much as I hate to think it, it just seems so unusual that we have not heard of such catastrophic crashes more often from "nature". My thoughts and prayers go to the families..

The real problem is that we might never find out the cause. My question would be that if it were sabatoge why Air France?
Donna

I just read that they think it was severe turbulence that caused the crash. I've been in REALLY severe turbulence on approach to landing. I was scared out of my mind. We went back up and diverted to another city. Planes can withstand a lot of turbulence.
I feel so sorry for the families.
Donna

I had seen the title of this thread earlier this morning, but did not want to click on it. It was no disrespect to the lives lost and their families. They have been in my thoughts and prayers all day. My husband's work involves extensive travel, 160,000+ air miles a year. I live in constant fear every day of my life while he is flying and when I see anything (news, blogs, etc...) relating to aviation I tend to shut down for just a bit. Wrong on my part? perhaps, but it's how I have coped for the last 15 years of his travel.

Again, my heart is heavy for the lives lost, their families and friends.

Thanks to all of you that have posted a reply. I know this is a very difficult subject to talk about. Being in the industry I always want to know what happened when a plane goes down. That is the way we learn how to prevent it from happening again.
My heart goes out to those involved. Please don't let this scare you. Flying is still the safest way to go. When I don't believe that anymore it will be my signal to retire.
Donna

Donna,
When I heard of that plane insident this morning, you were the first one I thought about. I knew you flew across the Atlantic, but I was certain it was not to France. Knowing that much was a great relief.

It is always better to at least know why something tragic happens, for future bennefit. I just really feel for those loved ones that are still not knowing. I know it would be a absolute miracle, but I hope some how that plane will be found.

hayjud,
Thanks for thinking about me. That makes me feel like you are all my extended family.
Donna

I was surprised to read that it's practically impossible for a lightening strike to bring down an airliner. There usually is a combination of factors that cause the disaster.

Here is a link that might be useful: what analysts are saying

I saw this breaking news this am too..

I found this blog, and they are keeping an update as much as they can on it.

Has their been no boats or helo's that have found any wreckage yet??? I just seems unbelievable that it's just "poof" gone without a trace.

Here is a link that might be useful: Flight Blog

This is eerie. ( I just mentioned the Bermuda Triangle to someone last week. I think thats way north of where the plane would be flying though. I remember hearing about it as a kid. Seems kind of like an urban legend though). Its real weird to me that they don't seem to have any idea of where to even search for the plane. Its just somewhere between Brazil and France. I hope they find some answers soon.

Lisa, they do have search grid. But I'm not sure that it's accurate.

When your flying over the Atlantic there is limited communication. On land you check in with each air traffic control center and they always know your exact whereabouts. It's different over water because there is limited communication from point to point. If they crashed into the water it will be difficult to locate them? The plane is probably at the bottom of the ocean.
It's also hard to predict turbulence. Unless there is an airplane ahead of you, which there usually isn't, turbulence is unpredictable.
Donna

There are so many ways this could have gone. I'm thinking lightening to the cockpit or some other rare occurrence.

I'm just waiting to hear more and that's why I haven't posted till now.

I read about this at work during the nanosecond I had free today. Very sad and scary. I hope they can find what's left of the plane but the ocean is huge. I'd like to know what happened too, even though I don't fly that much. Donna, the first thing I thought of was a bomb too...hard not to think about it. It's not like France has never been the target of terrorist acts.

Very sad. I hope for a miracle also. Those poor families.

I hate to say this but the Airbus has had it's share of safety issues. I would rather have this be a mechanical failure than sabotage.
I've been thinking about this all day. It's hard to just go about my day when something like this happens.

Donna

Donna... I just saw this post too. So sorry to hear about this and I am praying for those poor people and their families. We have a family member, female, who is a pilot for an airline here in the US. Her husband is an air traffic controller. Some very intense times for them I am sure.
Donna... you take care, and be safe

June

Thank you June

right there with you Donna...My heart hurts for the families...I'm doing my first long haul int'l in four years this coming Sunday...i'm just nervous about getting my bag in the overhead bin after my shoulder surgery last year...after I accomplish that...I'll be able to do anything! We need to meet up in LHR one of these days!

I've always heard that planes take lightning strikes all the time. I think it's something else. I hope it's not sabotage. For some reason, this reminds me of Lockerbie (sp?) If that flight had not been delayed, there would have been no wreckage to examine.

I hope you are able to find peace, Donna. I can understand your anxiety as I listen to a jet flying overhead right now. (We are on the flight path about 8 miles from Ft Lauderdale airport. Planes come in off the ocean, fly inland about 8 miles and do a U-turn back to the airport....

NPR radio had a piece about this today, and someone interviewed said that an Airbus is all electrical, different from most other planes, explaining that if the electrical controls went out there was no other way to control it.

I was on a regular jet years ago that was hit by lightning, twice, over Chicago and we managed to land. Bumpy ride, for sure.

It puzzles me why they don't know where the plane went down. Aren't they tracked with radar?

Saw this on another board-
Rio de Janeiro - A pilot from Brazil's airline TAM possibly spotted a burning piece of wreckage on the Atlantic Ocean while he was crossing the Atlantic early Monday morning. The Brazilian Air Force confirmed late Monday that the pilot saw "orange-coloured spots" in the middle of the Atlantic. The observation could have approximately corresponded to the time Air France 447 disappeared from radar.
AF447, with 228 people on board, went missing at about 0215 Monday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in Paris the chances of finding any survivors are "very slim."
The TAM crew "saw glowing spots on the high sea on its path between Europe and Brazil, about 1,300 kilometres off the island Fernando de Noronha," according to media reports based on an announcement by the TAM airline.
Fernando de Noronha is about 350 km off the Brazilian coast. Tam informed Brazilian authorities of the sighting.
The Brazilian Defence Ministry said the search for the missing plane started around 0530 GMT, four hours after the plane disappeared from radar screens, around the island.

This concerns me a lot since I fly from London to Chicago in 2 weeks. I'm praying for the passengers families and hope they find get more information soon as to what happened.
Diane

Although I was here at the Table earlier this evening, it was only for a very, very brief period of time before heading downstairs to dinner. Just got back up here and online.

Hubs and I carpool to work -- we take him to his office first, then I head to my office and I park the car at my building. By the time I got to my desk this morning, hubs had already e-mailed me a link to a news story about this.

From what I read this morning, airplanes are built to withstand lightening strikes -- it dissipates over the entire shell of the airplane. The article also said that this Air France jet had undoubtedly flown right into a horrible tropical thunderstorm; and further said that tropical thunderstorms are much, much, much more severe than any thunderstorm ever experienced over land, and it is virtually impossible to increase altitude to fly over them because they are huge and extend to unbelieveable heights.

I know what it is like to suddenly, unexpectedly, lose a loved one to a sudden death; but I have, fortunately, never experienced this with a transportation event of any kind. My heart goes out to the families and friends of everyone on that airplane, as well as to everyone who works in the airline industry. If the passengers and crew are, indeed, dead, I can only hope and pray that it happened quickly and that they didn't suffer (or even know what happened).

Diane,
Please don't let this scare you about flying home from London. Whatever did happen it is a rare occurence. I'm flying London 3 times in the next 10 days. I'm not afraid of flying my only fear is terrorism. I'm hoping they find that this incident was turbulence. We rarely have turbulence flying to Europe.
Liz, Why do you have to lift your bag? We all put our luggage on the closet floors.
Donna

The lesson here is to be nicer to your flight attendants. LOL I had to add some humor.

This just came through my news email;

"Debris Possibly From Air France Plane Found
Brazil's Air Force says it has found airplane seats and other debris floating in the Atlantic Ocean along the path that a missing Air France jet was flying."

I pray that they find some answers...whatever they are.

Very heartbreaking news. Below is a article about some of the passengers that were on the plane.

Here is a link that might be useful: Air France Passengers

I think there might be a manufacturing problem with Airbus. Read the article below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Airbus