Overview
- The Nice prosecutor said underwater photographs captured at roughly 2,300 meters deep identified several debris pieces within an 8 km² zone, including possible tail elements and two probable engines.
- The investigating judge briefed victims’ families on Wednesday, and lawyers for the relatives hailed the campaign as a major advance after years of stalled efforts.
- An expert assessment will now determine if the parts can be raised intact, a prerequisite for any forensic tests that could clarify how the aircraft broke up.
- The Marine nationale conducted the imaging during a mission from October 11 to 13, documenting the tail area, engines and numerous fuselage sections scattered on the seabed.
- The 1968 crash killed 95 people; a 1973 dismissal cited a cabin-toilet fire, the case was reopened in 2012 over suspected evidence concealment, and families continue to press a missile-strike hypothesis pending material analysis.