Yemenia A310-300 crashes in Indian Ocean with 150 on board

The aircraft involved in the accident, registered under the number 70-ADJ was MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number) 535. It was first delivered from the production line in 1990 and has been operated by Yemenia since October 1999. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 51,900 flight hours in some 17,300 flights. It was powered by Pratt and Whitney engines PW4152.

There were believed to be 153 people on board, including 66 French nationals. It is understood that IY626 crashed into choppy seas as it tried to land in bad weather on the Indian Ocean archipelago  An official from Yemenia has told news agencies that some bodies had been recovered from the wreck. The official could not say whether there were any survivors.

Two French military planes and a French ship left the Indian Ocean islands of Mayotte and Reunion to search for wreckage.

The weather conditions were rough; with strong winds and high seas. According to Reuters the wind speed recorded on land at the airport was 61 km (38 miles) an hour.

In line with the ICAO Annex 13 international convention, Airbus has said it will provide full technical assistance to the French BEA as well as to the authorities who will be responsible for the accident investigation. A team of specialists from Airbus is being dispatched to the Comoro Islands.

The A310-300 is a twin engine widebody seating 220 passengers in a standard two class configuration. The first A310-300 entered service in December 1985. By the end of May 2009, 214 A310s were in service with 41 operators. To date, the entire fleet has accumulated some 11.7 million flight hours in some 4.5 million flights.

In a statement this morning Airbus said "The concerns and sympathy of the Airbus employees go to the families, friends and loved ones affected by the accident of Flight IY626."