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Airbus to fund extended AF crash search

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-30 23:57

PARIS: Airbus would fund an extended search for flight recorders of an Air France A330 airliner that crashed into the Atlantic on Jun. 1, Airbus chief executive Thomas Enders said Thursday.

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"We want to know what happened, as improving air safety is our top priority," Enders was quoted by the financial newspaper La Tribune as saying.

"We are supporting an extended search by making a big contribution," he said.

According to La Tribune, Airbus would spend between 12 and 20 million euros ($16-28 million) to support an extended investigation of "at least three months."

Air France Airbus A330 Flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic on June 1 en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, killing all 228 people on board.

Investigators have so far failed to find the flight recorders, and the second phase of the search is due to end on Aug 22.