Wreck of S. Africa Jetliner Crash Found Off Mauritius
The wreckage of a South African Airways jumbo jet that crashed in November and killed all 159 people aboard has been found in the Indian Ocean at a depth of 14,400 feet, the U.S. Embassy said today.
The embassy said the information came from U.S. Navy Capt. Tom Ingersoll, who heads a team helping South African searchers with special sonar scanning and photographic equipment.
Rennie van Zyl, a spokesman for the South African Department of Civil Aviation, said recovery of any part of the plane will not be possible until at least May. He said contacts have already been made with the owners of a French submarine, the Nautile, which was used in the search for the Titanic about 13,200 feet below sea level.
The jetliner went down Nov. 28 shortly before it was scheduled to land at Mauritius on a refueling stop during the flight from Taipei, Taiwan, to Johannesburg, South Africa. Its crash was the worst in South African aviation history.
The condition of the 11 human remains and debris found during a five-nation search of the sea immediately after the crash indicated that there had been an explosion.
South African Transportation Minister Eli Louw announced today the formation of a board of inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
