Air tragedy

Mysteries are intriguing in fiction. In life, they are worrisome, especially when tragedy is involved.

Thus, it is troubling that the black boxes, or flight data recorders, for Air France Flight 447 have not been found. The flight, bound from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, disappeared over the Atlantic on May 31 with 228 people aboard.

The missing items are needed to pinpoint more precisely what happened to the Air France Airbus A330. Yet even without them, investigators have pieced together some information in the quest to know what caused the airliner to plunge into the sea.

Data messages from the jet suggest its air-speed indicators were malfunctioning, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The Air France messages transmitted by satellite to the airline show that some or all of the sensors that calculate speed had failed.

The available data indicates that the computer shut off the autopilot and automatic throttle, requiring the pilots to fly manually. USA Today reports that pilots are taught to "keep the plane level and maintain engine power if they get unusual airspeed readings." But confusion can result.

Airliners are equipped with two types of air-pressure gauges on the outside of the fuselage to calculate speed and altitude. Blockages can occur, although there are backup systems.

It is too early to conclude what happened aboard Flight 447, but investigators are studying similar aircraft accidents for clues.

By investigating how the tragedy occurred, analysts can possibly learn how to prevent another similar accident. But first the mystery needs to be solved.