Current Event 4 for the 4th Quarter

• An Airbus A330-200, part of the Air France fleet, carrying 228 people reported electrical problems in stormy weather before it lost contact and possibly crashed in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere off the coast of Brazil. The flight was supposed to be from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, but the Airbus A330-200 sent an automatic message signaling an electric circuit failure as it hit turbulence early in its 11-hour flight. The last known contact with the plane was reported at around 8:33 pm Eastern Time on Sunday night. Brazil says it has launched two air force squadrons to hunt near the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha in the Atlantic Ocean, 226 miles from the Brazilian coast, although the plane vanished outside the country's radar coverage. France's ambassador to Senegal also said that French military aircraft had been dispatched to search the West African country's coast for any remains of the plane as well. French president Sarkozy said authorities were also seeking the help of satellites that might be able to pick up signs of what happened to the 4-year-old Airbus 330. Among the passengers on-board the doomed aircraft were 126 men, 82 women, seven children, and a baby, in addition to the 12 crew members.
  
• This tragic event shows that even with the advanced technology of today’s aircraft, the forces of nature should still not be underestimated in their destructive force. The fact that the A330-200 aircraft has been touted as being a "reliable, ultra-modern, state-of-the-art airplane, with an impeccable safety record” shows that even the very cutting edge of today’s technology can be usurped with some well-placed natural fury. Overall, the article was well written though a little sparse on the information, which is understandable considering how recent the malfunction occurred.