Researchers locate zone of Air France black boxes

Investigators using new computer calculations have narrowed their search for the flight recorders of Air France Flight 447.

Researchers have determined an airea about the size of Paris, based on new analysis of data retrieved during the initial search efforts. That is much smaller than the 2,000 square-kilometer (770-square-mile) zone targeted in a search effort last month.

However, the French government and military officials have said the area is still too large to find the boxes.

“Does this mean we have found the black boxes? We are still far from certain,” Christian Baptiste, deputy spokesman at the Defence Ministry, said. “The search zone still equates to an area the size of Paris and we have to find an object the size of a shoebox in seabed terrain which looks like the Andes,” he told a news conference.

All 228 people on board the flight from Rio to Paris died in the crash, which was en route to Paris from Rio de Janeiro.

The cause behind the accident remains unknown but if the boxes can be reached they will reveal the flight data and cockpit conversations to uncover the mystery.

Apparently the boxes’ location zone has been traced using images found during the first search phase when the recorders were still emitting a signal.

Speculation about the cause of the deadly crash has focused on possible icing of the aircraft’s speed sensors, which appeared to give inconsistent readings seconds before the plane vanished.