Miracle Crash Survivor Returns Home

AP
Posted: 2009-07-02 10:41:05
Filed Under: Top News
A French government plane carrying the young girl believed to be the only survivor of an Indian Ocean plane crash arrived Thursday at a Paris airport from Comoros.

Bahia Bakari, 14, was brought back to France on the plane carrying a government minister and other French officials.

Latest Photos From Iran

    Iranian Mohsen Kadivar (R) leads demonstrators in prayer during a vigil to remember those killed following protests in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)

    Reuters

    A demonstrator gestures during a vigil to remember those killed following protests in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)

    Reuters

    Demonstrators pray during a vigil to remember those killed following protests in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)

    Reuters

    Demonstrators listen to a speaker during a peaceful gathering to protest the election results in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)

    Reuters

    Demonstrators listen to a speaker during a peaceful gathering to protest the election results in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)

    Reuters

    A demonstrator holds a banner during a demonstration to protest human rights abuses in Iran, outside Iranian Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, June 19, 2009. (AP Photo)

    AP

    A demonstrator holds a banner during a rally to protest the outcome of the presidential election in Iran, outside the Iranian Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, June 19, 2009. (AP Photo)

    AP

    A demonstrator holds his baby near a banner, during a rally to protest the outcome of the presidential election in Iran, outside the Iranian Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, June 19, 2009. (AP Photo)

    AP

    Demonstrators pray during a vigil to remember those killed following protests in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)

    Reuters

    Demonstrators organized by several groups, including Reporters Without Borders, hold banners during a demonstration to protest human rights abuses in Iran, outside Spain's Foreign Ministry in central Madrid, Friday, June 19, 2009. Protesters carried banners reading, 'Where is my vote?' and 'For a secular Iran' and 'Human rights for Iran'.(AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

    AP

An emergency ambulance drove up to the aircraft, and she was expected to be taken immediately to a hospital.

At the foot of the aircraft was her father, Kassim, as well as several other members of her family.

Bakari, the eldest of four children, had boarded a plane in Paris with her mother, Aziza, on Monday morning for the long journey via Marseille and San'a, Yemen, to Comoros where they planned to spend part of the summer school holidays with relatives. Her three siblings had stayed behind with her father.

Flight IY 626 crashed Tuesday morning in severe turbulence, and Bakari, described as a fragile girl who could barely swim, spent some 13 hours in the water before she was rescued.

The other 151 people on the plane, including Bakari's mother, are presumed dead.

When found hanging on to a piece of the plane, Bakari was suffering from hypothermia, a broken collarbone and bruises.

She was accompanied back to France by Alain Joyandet, the French minister of cooperation.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-07-03 20:38:40
Bookmark

More Black Voices News

For days, there were no memorials in a run-down neighborhood where 11 bodies were found in one home. No flowers or framed photos. Just a few small... Read More

First lady Michelle Obama launched a mentoring program Monday to give local high school girls access to women at the White House. Read More

Most Americans won't vote Tuesday. Still, a handful of elections in a few states will give hints about this country's state of mind, provide lessons... Read More

More than 650,000 jobs have been saved or created under President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan, the White House said Friday, saying it is on... Read More

The focus of the health overhaul debate now shifts to whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can persuade a handful of moderate senators to get... Read More

Our Lens Sept. 1

    Hector Jackson (C), who impersonates the late US pop star Michael Jackson, gestures while he takes part in the "I do dance Thriller" event which attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest mass "Thriller" dance, in Mexico City, on August 29. Up to 15,000 people are expected to take part in a potentially record breaking mass performance of Michael Jackson's famed "Thriller" dance on the day he would have turned 51.

    Omar Torres, AFP/ Getty Images

    A long line of fire marches west towards the communities of Acton and Sunland-Tujanga on August 31 in Los Angeles, California. At least 18 homes were destroyed and 12,000 more homes and 500 commercial buildings are being threatened in the fire which already took two lives. The wildfire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon near a ranger station and the Angeles Crest Highway above La Canada Flintridge, has forced thousands of evacuations.

    Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

    Venus Williams of the United States reaches for a shot against Vera Dushevina of Russia during day one of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

    Chris McGrath, Getty Images

    A Kenyan Muslim child reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa (Religion School), in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk.

    Sayyid Azim, AP

    Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center on August 28, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Discovery is scheduled for a 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

    Joe Raedle, Getty Images

    Host Vanessa Williams performs with dancer Gilles Marini onstage at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, in Los Angeles, California.

    Jesse Grant, WireImage

    A girl plays with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Bunol's town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the 'Tomatina' now in its 64th year.

    Alberto Saiz, AP

    Tom Wainaina recounts the events that lead to his being burned over most of his upper body August 26 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Wainaina was burned by a group of men during post-election violence in Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential election. Ethnic-tribal violence left over 1,000 people dead. The non-governmental organization (NGO) Concern, in cooperation with local Kenyan groups, has launched a campaign to provide the urban poor with cash grants to start a business or get back on their feet after suffering disproportionately from post-election violence in 2007. The money is transferred to the recipients via a mobile phone which insures a safe and simple financial transaction to customers who don?t have bank accounts. Wainaina is one of dozens of Kibera residents to receive the assistance of a cash grant. Hairdressers, grocery stores and food vendors are just some of the businesses that have been financed through the program.

    Spencer Platt, Getty Images

    People standing near the grave of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) look at the grave of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) at Arlington National Cemetery August 30, in Arlington, Virginia. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) was buried yesterday next to his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) after he died of brain cancer on August 25.

    Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images

    US President Barack Obama takes out his daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (2nd L) and niece Suhaila Ng (L) to shop in the Alleys general store on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 30, 2009.

    Jewel Samad, AFP/ Getty Images

Our History Remembered

This Week in Black History

Getty Images

Notable African Americans

This week, Barack Obama became the first African American president. Learn more "black facts."

This Week in Black History

    Today's News Poll

    News Discussion Boards

    *This list is automatically generated from live member discussions. It is not editorially selected.

        See All Black Voices Galleries

        Best African American Photos

        Bennett Raglin, WireImage

        Your Favorite Photos

        View the best pictures from Black Voices: Images of black celebrities, African American stars, black news photos and more.

        Best African American Photos