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By Brian WagnerBrazilian prosecutors1 are seeking to suspend flights at the country's busiest airport while investigators2 study a plane crash that killed at least 189 people. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports aviation officials have pledged to address safety concerns, without halting service at the key airport.
killing3 at least 189 people in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 19 July 2007" hspace="2" src="http://www.tingroom.com/upimg/allimg/070723/0826160.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" /> |
Firefighters work at the site where a TAM airlines jet crashed Tuesday killing at least 189 people in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 19 July 2007 |
Federal prosecutors filed a motion to halt operations at Congonhas airport one day after the TAM Airlines jet flew off a runway and burst into flames. Prosecutors asked a judge to suspend flights until aviation officials can ensure that it is safe to continue operations at the airport, in the heart of Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo.
Jose Carlos Pereira, the president of Brazil's aviation authority, Infraero, said halting flights at the nation's busiest airport would be an excessive and radical4 measure.
He said any suspension would affect the 20 million passengers who use that airport, and said it could trigger chaos5 in the airline industry.
Flights resumed at Congonhas airport early Wednesday, but aviation officials say the runway involved in the crash will remain closed until an investigation6 is complete.
TAM airline executives said the Airbus 320 aircraft was in perfect condition and the pilots were experienced.
Recovery efforts were continuing at the site where the plane left the runway, crossed a busy city street and crashed into a cargo7 terminal and gas station. Officials say the bodies of most of the victims have been recovered, but work is slow because of fears that the heavily damaged buildings may collapse8.
Brazilian investigators are working with experts from the plane's maker9, Airbus, as well as officials from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
Jim Hall, a former chairman of the U.S. agency, said the probe into the crash will consider numerous factors, including rainy conditions at the time of the accident.
"They will be looking at the runway, the runway surface," said Hall. "They will be looking at weather information that was available, weather radar10 [and] the transmissions between the [control] tower and the aircraft."
remains11 of victims from the crash of a TAM airlines commercial jet in Sao Paulo, 18 July 2007" hspace="2" src="http://www.tingroom.com/upimg/allimg/070723/0826161.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" /> |
Police officers carry remains of victims from the crash of a TAM airlines commercial jet in Sao Paulo, 18 July 2007 |
Hall said he has flown into Congonhas airport, and said he recalls that it has a very short runway and is located in a dense13 urban area. He said Brazilian officials have been aware of safety concerns for some time.
"The main concern is the length of that runway, and a lack obviously of any type of adequate safety area at the end of the runway," he added.
Hall says one possible safety measure is placing a surface called "crushable concrete" at the end of the tarmac to help stop runaway14 airplanes. He said several U.S. airports use the material that allows a plane's wheels to sink in, and slow the aircraft down.
1 prosecutors | |
检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 ); 告发人; 起诉人; 公诉人 | |
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2 investigators | |
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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3 killing | |
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财 | |
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4 radical | |
n.激进份子,原子团,根号;adj.根本的,激进的,彻底的 | |
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5 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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6 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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7 cargo | |
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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8 collapse | |
vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷 | |
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9 maker | |
n.制造者,制造商 | |
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10 radar | |
n.雷达,无线电探测器 | |
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11 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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12 grooves | |
n.沟( groove的名词复数 );槽;老一套;(某种)音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 );槽;老一套;(某种)音乐节奏 | |
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13 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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14 runaway | |
n.逃走的人,逃亡,亡命者;adj.逃亡的,逃走的 | |
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