229 killed as jet crashes in Atlantic
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.TOP UNITED Nations officials were among the 229 people killed when Swissair flight 111, bound from New York to Geneva, crashed off the coast of Nova Scotia late on Wednesday night just minutes from safety.
The dead included 137 Americans - including one of the world's leading Aids specialists, Dr Jonathan Mann - and six Britons. There was, at this stage, no evidence of terrorist action or sabotage causing the crash.
It was shortly before midnight local time when the pilots issued the ultimate distress call, "Pan, pan, pan", as they fought to keep the crippled flight 111 in the air and make it to the airport in Halifax, airline officials said yesterday.
But their time ran out 10 minutes too early as the MD-11 jet - many of its passengers already dressed in life jackets as smoke poured into the cockpit - plunged into the Atlantic off the coast of the eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
While some 40 bodies had been recovered last night, almost all hope of finding survivors of the crash had been abandoned. It was the worst disaster in Switzerland's aviation history and echoes the crash of TWA 800 off Long Island just over two years ago.
Last flight of the 'UN shuttle', page 3
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments