Comoros air disaster

 Air disaster in The Comoros – Appointment of an ambassador for the families and close friends of the victims of flight 626 – Communiqué issued by the Prime Minister’s Office

Paris, 3 July 2009

On the proposal of Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, on 3 July the Prime Minister appointed an ambassador for the families and close friends of the victims of Yemenia flight 626 which crashed off the coast of The Comoros on the night of 29/30 June 2009, as he did following the disappearance of flight AF 447.

The ambassador is Mme Christine Robichon, Minister Plenipotentiary. She will be tasked with assisting the families and close friends of the French victims and the families and close friends resident in France of the other victims, particularly by facilitating their dealings with the relevant government departments and Yemenia.

She will also ensure smooth cooperation between the authorities of the victims’ countries of origin, particularly The Comoros, and the Yemeni authorities and Yemenia./.

 Air disaster in The Comoros – Interview given by Dominique Bussereau, Minister of State responsible for Transport, to the “Le Figaro” newspaper (excerpts)

Paris, 2 July 2009

Q. – The Comoros disaster reveals that the Yemenia airline frequently transports passengers, including French nationals, on board a plane banned in France. Can we fight against this practice?

THE MINISTER – Generally speaking, regrettably we have to face the fact that because of the creation of a European blacklist and increased number of “SAFA” (Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft) checks, airlines of some distant countries tend to select the best aircraft for European routes. This effectively means the least rigorously maintained planes are used for other destinations. So today I’m asking for the creation of a global blacklist.

Q. – Is there an international consensus on this?

THE MINISTER – I’d like in any case to get a majority for this in the International Civil Aviation Organization. We haven’t got one yet, since not all countries have the same security requirements. But France is determined to work to this end with the European and international authorities. In fact, yesterday I talked at length about this to the European commissioner, Antonio Tajani. Passengers must also have all the necessary information. The European Commission’s decisions on the various airlines are public, but the only thing people know about is the blacklist.

Q. – When it was last in a French airport, on 4 July 2007, many defects were reported on the Yemenia Airbus 310. What were they?

THE MINISTER – In 2007, twenty or so observations were made to Yemenia. Some concerned worrying technical faults. Civil Aviation Directorate-General inspectors had reported unusable crew and passenger seats, insufficient pressure to work the emergency exit doors, and hold equipment which wasn’t properly secured. Other technical defects were more minor such as unusable aircraft safety kits and luggage separation nets in a bad state of repair. We had also noted that the on-board documentation was not up to date and oxygen bottles weren’t secured. Since then, the airline maintains it has remedied these various faults. I am not in a position to confirm it since the plane hasn’t landed on French soil for two years. This will now be for the investigation to determine. (…)./.

 Air disaster in The Comoros – Communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic

Paris, 30 June 2009

France is extremely shocked to be confronting another air disaster, the second in such a short space of time.

Today the loss of the Yemenia airline Airbus en route for The Comoros from Sana’a in Yemen once again plunges families and our country into mourning. President Sarkozy expresses his heartfelt condolences to them. The Head of State’s thoughts go out especially to France’s Comorian community, deeply distressed by this tragedy.

It is in such painful circumstances as these that national solidarity is expressed the most intensely. President Sarkozy speaks for the whole nation which shares their grief and expresses their sincere compassion to them.

The Head of State wants to assure them that the government will provide them with all necessary help in these tragic circumstances and requests all the French capabilities deployed to assist the passengers on the Yemenia flight relentlessly to pursue their efforts.

An interfaith ceremony, in which President Sarkozy will take part, will be held in late afternoon on Thursday, 2 July at the Paris Mosque to pay tribute to the victims of this tragedy./.

 Air disaster in The Comoros – Communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic

Paris, 30 June 2009

Informed this morning that a Yemenia Airbus A310 on the Paris Charles de Gaulle-Moroni route had crashed into the sea, President Sarkozy expressed his very great shock.

He immediately asked the armed forces to do the utmost, particularly from their bases in Mayotte and Réunion, to go to the assistance of the passengers and crew of the Yemini airline Airbus, and asked Dominique Bussereau, Minister of State responsible for Transport, to visit the crisis centre at Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport to monitor developments in the situation as closely as possible./.

 Air disaster in The Comoros – Statement by Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs

Paris, 30 June 2009

Early this morning, I learned that a plane belonging to Yemen’s national airline Yemenia Air crashed into the sea off the Comorian coast. The plane, which had set off from Sana’a, had on board passengers from Paris, including 66 French nationals.

I extend my very sincere condolences to the bereaved.

At the Comorian authorities’ request, France is sending air and sea capabilities to help in the search operations.

The French Embassy in Moroni and the Ministry’s crisis centre are fully mobilized. The French Embassy in Moroni has set up an emergency telephone line for the victims’ families: 00 269 77 30 753. Aéroports de Paris (ADP) has a dedicated line for families and close friends of the passengers: 0033 1 48 64 59 59.

Alain Joyandet, Minister of State responsible for Cooperation and Francophony, will be going to Moroni very soon./.