Twenty die in Tahiti plane crash

All 20 people on board died on 10 August when an aircraft crashed into the sea after taking off from the French Polynesian island of Moorea, according to reports received in New Zealand. Nobody survived a routine 15-kilometre flight to the capital Papeete which should have taken no more than five-to-seven minutes, the Oceania Flash news website reported. The 19 passengers included two officials from the European Commission’s delegation to the Pacific, Michel Gauche, who was based in Fiji and Jean-Pierre Pierard, based in Noumea, New Caledonia, the website reported. The pilot was named as Michel Santurelle and there were unconfirmed reports that two Australian tourists were among the dead. It was not clear what caused the Air Moorea De Havilland Twin Otter plane to plunge into the sea soon after take off on a perfect sunny day.

Aircraft crashes in Brazil

A commercial airliner, A 320 Airbus SAS plane, skidded off the runway and slammed into a gas station and a building on July 17, 2007, at Conghas  Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. For this reason, the plane was set on fire and about 200 people died. Brazilian federal prosecutors gave order for a complete investigation. Although the airport is short and has slick runways, the accident was caused because of possible pilot error or failure of the breaking system. The video footage of the incident shows that the plane moved down through the runway, faster than normal speed. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised a thorough investigation. It should be noted that an accident like this also took place a year ago.

Further read:

Silva in air safety pledge as disaster leaves Brazil angry

Airport security restrictions are now being eased 

Official move to shut Brazilian crash airport 

One Thruster Turned Off in Brazil Crash