communiqué de presse 17 mai 2011
English translation for the non-francophones:
"According to an article published in Le Figaro in the evening of May 16th, 2011, the “preliminary data extracted from the black boxes”, would clear Airbus from the accident of the A330, flight AF 447,that killed 216 passengers and 12 crew on June 1st, 2009.
Sacrifice to sensationalism, by publishing non-validated information, while data extraction from the recorders is just beginning, is an attempt to the respect towards the deceased passengers and crew and throws confusion among the victim’s families, already affected by the effects of the announcement.
The BEA reminds that, as the safety inquiry authority, it is the only one that may release any informations regarding advancements in the inquiry. Accordingly, any information released by any other source is null, if non validated by the BEA.
The collection of the complete set of voice and flight data, allows us the near certainty that all light will be shed on this accident.
The enquirers must now analyse and validate multiple informations. This is a long and painstaking work and the BEA has already announced that no interim report will be published before summer.
At this stage of the inquiry, no conclusion can be assumed."