Gulf Air Plane Crashes, No Sign of Survivors YetAll the 143 people, including 135 passengers and eight crew, aboard a Gulf Air plane that crashed in the Gulf Wednesday night near Bahrain were feared dead.Six hours after the crash, which took place at 1630 GMT, 110 bodies have been reportedly retrieved from the wreckage of Airbus A320, and still no signs of survivors. Rescue operation is still going on and helicopters from the US Navy 5th Fleet based in Bahrain are assisting in search for more bodies, possible survivors and the two blackboxes that record pilots' conversations and the performance of the plane. The two-engined Airbus A320 coming from Egyptian capital Cairo had made two unsuccessful landings at the Bahraini International Airport, and it ditched into the shallow waters in the Gulf near the runway on its third landing attempt, with one engine on fire, a Bahraini official said. Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa has ordered investigation into the cause of the plane crash. Bahraini officials had earlier said the flight GF072 plunged into the waters shortly after taking off from the Bahraini International Airport in the country's capital of Manama. Officials of the Gulf Air have confirmed that the passengers include 63 Egyptians, 34 Bahrainis, 12 Saudis, two Britons, an Australian, nine Palestinians, six from the United Arab Emirates, three Chinese, one Korean, one Kuwaiti, one Sudanese and one Omani. The crew comprised the Polish pilot, two Egyptians, an Indian, one Filipino, one Moroccan, an Omani and one from the United Arab Emirates. Gulf Air belongs in equal parts to Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the government of Abu Dhabi, the largest of seven sheikdoms making up the United Arab Emirates. The Bahrain-based Gulf Air operates a fleet of 28 planes and flies to 53 international destinations. There are altogether 1,100 Airbus A320s in service around the world and the Airbus A320 can seat up to 150 passengers. |
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