Air France Was Warned of Speed Sensor Problem Before Crash

June 8, 2009
French investigators said that the airline had not yet replaced a key part before the aircraft's disappearance one week ago.

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL — Search crews recovered the bodies of two men in the Atlantic Ocean Saturday morning about 40 miles from where Air France Flight 447 last gave its position before vanishing last Sunday night. The announcement came just hours after French investigators said that the airline had not yet replaced a key part for monitoring air speed on the plane as recommended by its manufacturer.

The bodies and some personal items — which appeared to be the first physical evidence of the plane — were fished from the sea hundreds of miles off Brazil’s northeast coast, according to Brazilian officials. Crews also found a leather briefcase containing an Air France boarding pass with the flight number on it, a blue airplane seat with a serial number and a nylon backpack with a vaccination card inside, the officials said.

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