France Loses Citizens in Second Air Crash

Media Release

Contact:

Mandy Castle
IHS Jane’s Public Relations Manager
+44 (0) 208 700 3745
amanda.castle@janes.com

France Loses Citizens in Second Air Crash

IHS Jane’s Aviation Analyst Comments

LONDON, (30th June 2009) – IHS Jane’s Aviation Analyst Chris Yates explained, “ For the second time in a month France is forced to come to terms with the loss of its citizens in an air crash.”

Reports suggest the crash of a Yemeni Air Airbus A310-300 from the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean has mainly claimed the lives of Comoran or French nationals among the 142 passengers and 11 crew believed to have died in the crash.

The flight was inbound from the Yemeni capital of Sanaa to the Comoran capital of Moroni and it is believed though not yet confirmed that the majority of the passengers had been travelling from Paris.

This specific aircraft underwent checks by the French Aviation Safety Authority in 2007, was found to be deficient in certain respects and has not operated in French airspace since The French Transport Minister has said the airline is understood to have been due for an EU safety audit imminently.

This latest crash comes just four weeks after the loss of an Air France A330-200 in the Atlantic Ocean.

IHS Jane's Aviation Analyst, Chris Yates, continued, “Little is known about the circumstance of this Yemeni Air crash but it is believed weather conditions in the area and across the approach path are thought to have been rough with strong winds.

“Yemeni is the state carrier of Yemen and has a reasonably good safety record, despite its relatively elderly fleet of aircraft.

“The carrier operates 3 A310-300, 2 A330-200, 4 B737-800 and 1 B747SP VIP aircraft. It is presently in the midst of a fleet renewal programme with orders placed for 10 A350-300 aircraft, the first of which is due to enter service in 2014.

“Airbus ceased delivery of this type in 1998 although the company only officially closed the production line in 2007. The aircraft is a widebody long-range jet which formerly dominated transatlantic twin-engine operations before being squeezed out in favour of more modern and economical types of aircraft.”

Yates concluded, “Weather may indeed have been the primary cause of the crash of this Yemeni Air A310-300. The French Minister for Transport has just confirmed that the aircraft aborted an initial landing and was making a second approach to the Moroni airport.

“Much more information is required though, before a definitive determination of the cause of the crash can be made.”

IHS Jane’s is an IHS (NYSE: IHS) company.

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To interview IHS Jane’s Aviation Analyst Chris Yates please contact Mandy Castle, senior manager public relations IHS Jane’s, (contact details at top of page).

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