French President Hollande meets with families of Air Algerie plane crash

World Today

French President Hollande meets with families of Air Algerie plane crashFrench President Francois Hollande delivers a speech outside the Foreign Affairs ministry in Paris on July 26, 2014, after meeting families of the victims of the Air Algerie Flight AH5017. (Photo: AFP/Philippe Wojazer)

The UN says a second “black box” has been found from Thursday’s Air Algerie crash in Mali. France is honoring the 118 passengers who died with a three day period of mourning. Flags on government building across France will fly at half-staff until Wednesday for the 54 French nationals aboard. CCTV-America’s Jack Parrock reports from Paris.

French President Hollande meets with families of Air Algerie plane crash victims

The UN says a second "black box" has been found from Thursday's Air Algerie crash in Mali. France is honoring the 118 passengers who died with a three day period of mourning. Flags on government building across France will fly at half-staff until Wednesday for the 54 French nationals aboard. CCTV-America's Jack Parrock reports from Paris.


At a meeting behind the closed doors of the French government, the families of the 54 were promised by President Hollande to be given all the information he can possibly provide them.

“At this hour, all my thoughts are with the victims and their families, the 118 victims of this terrible tragedy and their families,” said President Hollande. “We are thinking of the victims and their families and those close to them, and we are at their side.”

Out of respect for the families, President Hollande insisted the would be no cameras or press at the event. The tragedy has touched the heart of the nation and the french government wants to make sure the dignity of the dead is preserved.

Frenchman Michel Reynaud, his ex-wife, their two sons and two daughters, and four of their grandchildren all died in this tragic crash: three generations of one family all lost on the same day.

As a result of the plane crashing in Mali, that country will take the lead in the investigation. However, France already had 1600 troops on the ground in the country which is still consumed in civil war. The French say they’ll do everything they can to ensure the crash site is investigated fully and treated with respect.

The crash site is around 300 meters in diameter, which is consistent with the projection that this crash was caused by poor weather. Full investigations of this nature can take up to a year.