Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]



This is an archived forum, so it is here for read-only purposes only. We are not accepting new members and members cannot post any longer. Members can, however, access their old private messages. Strawberry Fields was open from 2006 until 2011. There is a Strawberry Fields Beatles Forum on Facebook. If you are registered with Facebook, join us at the group there!

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
At Least 200 Dead In Plane Crash In Brazil; Sao Paulo Airport
Topic Started: Jul 18 2007, 07:48 AM (1,846 Views)
JeffLynnesBeard
Member Avatar
Administrator & Moderator
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas...il.plane.crash/

SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNN) -- A jetliner crashed and exploded into flames at Brazil's busiest airport on Tuesday night, killing at least 200 people, local rescue workers said.

As investigators prepared to open a probe into the cause of the crash of the TAM Airlines Airbus A320, questions were being raised about both the growth in Brazilian air traffic and Sao Paulo's Congonhas Airport.

The Sao Paulo fire department said at least 200 people, including some on the ground, were dead at the scene. The figure would make Tuesday's crash Brazil's deadliest air disaster.

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared three days of national morning for the victims, according to reports from The Associated Press.

Witnesses said the plane skidded across a major road at rush hour. Reports that the plane struck a gas station could not be confirmed, but a massive fire broke out.

The crash happened in a driving rain, and the plane apparently struck a building bearing the airline's logo at the small domestic airport in the heart of the city. At least 50 rescue vehicles were at the scene, firefighters said. The fire continued to burn into the night.

Paulo Barros told the Brazilian newspaper O Globo that he was getting ready to board a flight to Brasilia on another runway when the plane crashed.

"We saw the plane go straight down the runway. It didn't manage to stop and went into the avenue. It went by so fast that we thought it was taking off," Barros said.

Flight JJ3054 was coming to Sao Paulo from Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, the airline said. TAM Airlines said there were 176 people on board -- 170 passengers and six crew members. Watch scene after plane crashes in Sao Paulo »

Sao Paulo's airport is notorious for having short, slippery runways, CNN's Miles O'Brien reported. The runway was recently resurfaced, but the cutting of grooves to channel rainwater off the pavement had not been completed, he said.

CNN's Richard Quest said the Sao Paulo airport is designed to best handle short commuter flights for Brazil's large domestic air market.

A Brazilian court in February banned large jets at the busy airport because of safety concerns, The Associated Press reported.

But an appeals court overruled the ban, saying it would hurt business and that the safety problems did not warrant halting air traffic, according to AP.

The airline said it could not immediately confirm the extent of the damage or the number of victims. Family members of those on the plane were being given assistance, it said.

"I was surprised by a ball of fire in front of my window," Deisy Oliveira, who lives by the airport, told O Globo.

"The atmosphere is tense and nervous, because nobody really knows what happened. Since the plane hit the building and a gas station, you can't tell exactly where the explosion happened."

The airport's main runway was closed for several weeks at one point while it was repaired because of a problem with water collecting on the runway, Tom Hennigan, a reporter from The Times of London in Sao Paulo, told CNN. It was too early, however, to say whether that may have contributed to Tuesday's incident, he said.

The airport is small and in a densely populated area, he said.

"When you fly into Congonhas airport, it is like you are literally flying past people's living rooms in apartment blocks," Hennigan said. "Then you land on the runway. It is completely surrounded by the central part of Sao Paulo city. This is not an airport out on the edge of the city. This is right in the city."

According to AP, Brazil's deadliest crash before Tuesday occurred last September when a Gol Aerolinhas Inteligentes SA Boeing 737 collided with an executive jet over the Amazon rainforest, killing 154 people. The executive jet landed safely.

----

What a terrible tragedy. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have died. :cry:
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Hi Andy.

Another accident involving TAM.

I am so shocked.

I was in Porto Alegre visiting some relatives, I bought the airplane ticket for that flight, JJ3054 last Friday, and I changed my mind yesterday in the morning and I decided to visit my sister who lives in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina it´s another city in the South, they changed my airplane ticket.

I didnt know about this tragedy, only this morning. I decided to catch a bus to return to São Paulo because I didnt have enough money for another airplane ticket.

I called my mother she thought I was in the airplane because I didnt tell her I changed my mind. I didnt answer my cellphone because I had headache all night in the bus, she thought something happened.

I feel lucky, me and a friend would be dead now, it is a strange feeling, I am speechless.

:cry:
Quote Post Goto Top
 
MaccasGirl
Member Avatar
Born To Be Wild
Wow, be thankful you decided not to take that flight, Love Sculpture. Your poor mother must be SO relieved now! I can bet you must be in shock, too.

I'm very sorry for the people that lost their lives in the crash and the families they leave behind. :cry:
And in the end...The love you take..Is equal to the love you make.


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
JeffLynnesBeard
Member Avatar
Administrator & Moderator
Love Sculpture
Jul 18 2007, 01:40 PM
Hi Andy.

Another accident involving TAM.

I am so shocked.

I was in Porto Alegre visiting some relatives, I bought the airplane ticket for that flight, JJ3054 last Friday, and I changed my mind yesterday in the morning and I decided to visit my sister who lives in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina it´s another city in the South, they changed my airplane ticket.

I didnt know about this tragedy, only this morning. I decided to catch a bus to return to São Paulo because I didnt have enough money for another airplane ticket.

I called my mother she thought I was in the airplane because I didnt tell her I changed my mind. I didnt answer my cellphone because I had headache all night in the bus, she thought something happened.

I feel lucky, me and a friend would be dead now, it is a strange feeling, I am speechless.

:cry:

Michelle! :o

Of course, I feel terrible for the people on that flight, but so, so relieved that you changed your plans! The first thing I thought of when I saw that crash was you, as our only Brazillian board member, but seeing as how many people are in Sao Paulo alone, I soon put it out of my mind as highly unlikely... but that was so very lucky for you and your friend.

Glad to have you here with us. :hug:
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bill
Member Avatar

Michelle, the first thing I thought of when I heard was that you said you would be travelling. I searched for what you had told me and was so relieved when I saw you said it was next month. I never realised that you had already postponed your plans. So glad you did! :hug:
Put a puppet on it.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
kink
Member Avatar
on again, off again
Love Sculpture
Jul 18 2007, 02:40 PM
Hi Andy.

Another accident involving TAM.

I am so shocked.

I was in Porto Alegre visiting some relatives, I bought the airplane ticket for that flight, JJ3054 last Friday, and I changed my mind yesterday in the morning and I decided to visit my sister who lives in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina it´s another city in the South, they changed my airplane ticket.

I didnt know about this tragedy, only this morning. I decided to catch a bus to return to São Paulo because I didnt have enough money for another airplane ticket.

I called my mother she thought I was in the airplane because I didnt tell her I changed my mind. I didnt answer my cellphone because I had headache all night in the bus, she thought something happened.

I feel lucky, me and a friend would be dead now, it is a strange feeling, I am speechless.

:cry:

:o

I'm so glad you are ok. Huge tragedy, though.
Strawberry Fields: We put the FUN in dysfunctional.
-BeatleBarb, 2007
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bluemeanie
Member Avatar
is now a happily married woman x
Love Sculpture
Jul 18 2007, 01:40 PM
Hi Andy.

Another accident involving TAM.

I am so shocked.

I was in Porto Alegre visiting some relatives, I bought the airplane ticket for that flight, JJ3054 last Friday, and I changed my mind yesterday in the morning and I decided to visit my sister who lives in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina it´s another city in the South, they changed my airplane ticket.

I didnt know about this tragedy, only this morning. I decided to catch a bus to return to São Paulo because I didnt have enough money for another airplane ticket.

I called my mother she thought I was in the airplane because I didnt tell her I changed my mind. I didnt answer my cellphone because I had headache all night in the bus, she thought something happened.

I feel lucky, me and a friend would be dead now, it is a strange feeling, I am speechless.

:cry:

Michelle - Im so shocked at this tradegy in your country when I heard it on the news and now reading that you should of been on that flight too - someone was looking down on you :console:

as I'm typing this now - its on out national news :(
Jayne x

Posted Image

is loving life and is so happy xxx
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Dorfliedot
Member Avatar
Beatlelicious
Love Sculpture
Jul 18 2007, 05:40 AM
Hi Andy.

Another accident involving TAM.

I am so shocked.

I was in Porto Alegre visiting some relatives, I bought the airplane ticket for that flight, JJ3054 last Friday, and I changed my mind yesterday in the morning and I decided to visit my sister who lives in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina it´s another city in the South, they changed my airplane ticket.

I didnt know about this tragedy, only this morning. I decided to catch a bus to return to São Paulo because I didnt have enough money for another airplane ticket.

I called my mother she thought I was in the airplane because I didnt tell her I changed my mind. I didnt answer my cellphone because I had headache all night in the bus, she thought something happened.

I feel lucky, me and a friend would be dead now, it is a strange feeling, I am speechless.

:cry:

Thank god. :hug: I am so relieve you were not on that plane. but, I feel bed for the families o the others... :cry: What a tragedy. :(
Posted Image
Add Glitter to your Photos
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
JanaW
Member Avatar

Everyone should always listen to their inner being...more often than not that little voice can keep you from harm. I'm so happy you listened. Your poor mother must have been beside herself with hysteria.
If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian.
Linda McCartney
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mozart8mytoe
Member Avatar

This is a pretty long week for bad sh*t happening.
Nurse, I spy gypsies. Run.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Yes I am happy I changed my mind. But I am really sad now. My friend said his father was working in the building and nobody knows where he is. A friend of my friend who is from Porto Alegre lost his wife and his 1 year old baby. His friend came to São Paulo before her to solve some problems. I saw on the newspaper that a woman, her husband and the 2 kids died, a family, how sad...

But life goes on...



God Bless all the victims, here are their names

Adelaide Moura
Alanis Andrade
Alejandro Camozzi
Alexandre Goes
Ana Carolina Cunha
Anderson Cassel
Andre Dona
Andrea Seiczkowski
Angela Haensel
Antonio Carlos Araujo de Souza
Arnaldo Batista Ramos
Arthur Queiroz
Atilio Sassa Bilibio
Bruna de Villi Chaccur
Bruno Ferraz
Bruno Nascimento
Caio Felipe Cunha
Carla Fioratti
Carlos Alberto Andriotti
Carlos Rockemback
Carmen Luisa Victoria Fonseca
Catilene Oliveira
Christine Souza
Ciro Numada
Claudemir Arriero
Decio Tevola
Demetrio Travessa
Denilson Lopes Costa
Deolinda Magaly Victor Fonseca
Douglas Teixeira
Edmundo Smith
Eduardo Mancia
Elcita Ramos
Elenilze Ferraz
Eliane Dornelles
Elida Dembinski
Emerson Freitag
Enrico Shiohara
Esio Freitas
Fabiana Amaral
Fabiane Ruzante
Fabiano Rosito Matos
Fabio Balsells
Fabio Marques
Fabio Velloza
Fatima Santiago
Felipe Fratezi
Fernando Antonio Laro Oliveira
Fernando Marques
Fernando Pessoa
Gabriel Correia Pedrosa
Gilmar Tenorio Rocha
Gottfried Tagloehner
Guilherme Moraes
Guilherme Pereira
Gustavo Martins
Heloiza Helena Lopes
Heurico Tomita
Ines Maria Kleinowski
Ivalino Bonato
Ivanaldo Cunha
Jamille Leao
Janus Silva
Jaqueline Dias
Joao Brito
Joao Caltabiano
Joao Valmir
Jose a Flores Amaral
José Lima Luz
José Pinto
Julia Camargo
Julia Elizabete Gomes
Julio Cesar Redecker
Katia Escobar
Katiane Lima
Jose Carlos Pierucetti
Larissa Ferraz
Leila Maria Oliveira dos Santos
Levi Leão
Lina Barbosa Cassol
Lisiane Schubert
Lucas Palomino Mattedi
Luciana Siqueira Lana Angelis
Luis Schneider
Luiz Baruffaldi
Luiz Luz
Marcelo Marthe
Marcelo Palmieri
Marcelo Pedreira
Marcelo Stelzer
Marcio Alexandre de Moraes
Marco Antonio da Silva
Maria Elizabete Caballero
Maria Isabel Gomes
Mariana Pereira
Mariana Sell
Mario Gomes
Marli Pedro Santos
Marta Almeida
Melissa Andrade
Mery Vieira
Mirtes Suda
Nadia Moyses
Nadja Soczeck
Nelly Priebe
Paulo Cassiano Feliza Oliveira
Paulo Pavi
Paulo Rogerio Amoretty Souza
Paulo Silveira, Pedro Abreu
Pedro Augusto Caltabiano
Jose Carlos de Oliveira
Priscila Bertoldi Silva
Raquel Warmiling
Rebeca Haddad
Remy Moller
Renan Klug Ribeiro
Renato Ribeiro
Renato Soares
Richard Salles Canfield
Roberto Gavioli
Rodrigo Benachio
Rodrigo Prado
Rodrigo Souza Moreale
Rogerio Laurentis
Rogerio Sato
Rosangela Maria de Avil Severo
Rospierre Vilhena
Sandro Schubert
Sergio Freitas
Silvan Stumpf
Silvania Regina de Avila Alves
Silvano Almeida
Silvia Grunewald
Sonia Machado
Soraya Charara
Sueli Fleck
Suely Fonseca
Thais Scott
Valdemarina Souza
Valdir Cordeiro de Moraes
Vanda Ueda, Vilma Klug
Vitacir Paludo
Zenilda Santos
Caio Augusto Bueno Dal Prata
Rafaela Bueno Dal Prata
Ricardo Almeida, Marcio Andrade
Cassio Vieira Servulo da Cunha
Akio Iwasaki
Andrei Melo
Clove Mendonça Junior
Janus Silva
Roberto Wilson Weiss Junior
Simone Wetrupp
Nelson Wiebbelling
Rubem Wiethaeuper
Paula Masseran de Arruda Xavier
Luiz Zacchini
Carlos Zanotto

R.I.P

Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

JanaW
Jul 19 2007, 06:37 AM
Everyone should always listen to their inner being...more often than not that little voice can keep you from harm. I'm so happy you listened. Your poor mother must have been beside herself with hysteria.

Yes what you said is so true.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sandra

JanaW
Jul 19 2007, 06:37 AM
Everyone should always listen to their inner being...more often than not that little voice can keep you from harm.

I always do Jana - that little voice hasn't steered me wrong yet.

Michelle I'm so glad you are ok I thought about you immediately when I heard of this terrible tragedy.
It is heart wrenching to read the names of all the people who died. :(

<a href='http://eapr-1/@0@Sandra@1@Edinburgh%2C%20Scotland@' target='_blank'></a>
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kopite
Member Avatar
You'll Never Walk Alone
I was shocked when I heard about this accident. I thought of you, Michelle. I'm glad you´re ok.
“Above all, I would like to be remembered as a man who was selfless, who strove and worried so that others could share the glory, and who built up a family of people who could hold their heads up high and say, 'We're Liverpool'.” - Bill Shankly

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
ZetaBoards gives you all the tools to create a successful discussion community.
Learn More · Sign-up for Free
« Previous Topic · Things We Said Today · Next Topic »
Add Reply


"Treasure these few words"