Air France tragedy deals a blow to the arts
While French and Brazilian pilots continue to search the Atlantic for the remains of missing Air France Flight 447, Brazilian and European newspapers have been publishing names of the presumed dead among the 216 passengers who were on board. The Airbus 330, which also was carrying 12 crew members, disappeared off Brazil's northeast coast on Sunday night, apparently after encountering violent thunderstorms and severe turbulence.
Among those feared dead is Silvio Barbato (pictured above, second from top right), artistic director of the Symphony Orchestra of the National Theatre of Brazil in the nation's capital, Brasília, from 1989 to 1992 and from 1999 to 2006. He also conducted the Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro. He turned 50 on May 11.
Also among the plane's passengers, according to a German newspaper, was the German architect Moritz Kock, 54. According to the newspaper, as reported in Brazil's Folha de São Paulo, the architect had been visiting Rio de Janeiro (where the flight originated), where he met with associates of legendary Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. According to the German newspaper, Kock had wanted the opinion of Niemayer's team regarding the construction of an aquatic park in Potsdam, Germany, near Berlin.
Juliana Ferreira Braga de Aquino, 29, a Brazilian singer (also pictured above, second from top left), also was among the reported missing passengers.
-- Reed Johnson in Los Angeles and Cristiana Ferraz Coimbra in São Paulo
Photo: Vanderlei Almeida / AFP / Getty Images
It is really sad news.I pray that the victims can be identified as soon as possible to help their families mourn properly.I also pray that the Lord God Almighty can grant them peace,comfort and strength as they go through this trying moment.
Posted by: mildred ondia | June 03, 2009 at 03:26 AM
I am shocked to know the news of Air France crash. My heart is filled with endless pain thinking the ordeal of passengers on board. I just wanna say that I am with You(Family members of the victims) to share the unbearable loss. May Allah bless the souls of them.
Sifat-E-Arman
Lecture of CSE
Bangladesh
Posted by: Sifat-E-Arman | June 03, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I DEDICATE THIS DAY TO ALL THOSE WHO'VE PERISHED ONBOARD THE AIR FRANCE 447..MAY YOU FIND UNTIMELY PEACE AND COMFORT WHEREVER YOU MAY BE...RIP AND MAY GOD THE ALMIGHTY KEEP YOU WELL...TO THEIR FAMILIES-MY TEARS FLOW ALONG WITH YOURS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME..
Posted by: EUGENE | June 03, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I'm still in shock from the flight 447 failure to reach it destination. My heart and my thought are with families of the victims during this difficult time.
Posted by: Phumlani | June 04, 2009 at 06:01 AM
Never lose hope. They could all be living on the "Lost" island right now.
Posted by: Just Aguy | June 06, 2009 at 11:30 AM
be sure they know.... we will never know
Posted by: Zauzalito | June 06, 2009 at 12:36 PM
This is really a full scale disaster. However I ask for strength for the bereaved families.Now you all take heart, for we would meet our loved ones again.
Posted by: Ebenezer Martey-Kodi | June 18, 2009 at 12:41 PM
It's terrible! I like airplane; but, this tragedy with the Air France flight sadden us. My God, all are perplexeds in Rio de Janeiro Ciy! Who can pay the debt?! We must to achieve an answer, now... I go to forget this big nightmare. Helinho, from Madureira - RJ/BRAZIL-2009.
Posted by: hélio pinheiro de oliveira | August 21, 2009 at 05:03 PM