Aircraft

French investigators are to consider options for expanding the search for the flight recorders of Air France flight AF447 after ending a second phase of undersea operations.

Search teams in the South Atlantic have completed stages designated Phase 1A and 1B in the hunt for the cockpit-voice and flight-data recorders of the Airbus A330 lost on 1 June.

France's Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses says the search, undertaken in co-operation with oceanographic institute IFREMER and hydrographic service SHOM, has focused on a 75km-radius circle around the aircraft's last known position.

The BEA says that the search "did not make it possible to locate the aircraft wreckage".

It says it will draw a team of investigators together over the next few weeks to analyse data retrieved so far "with a view to a third search phase". BEA says it will determine "requirements and means" to proceed.

Airbus has already indicated a willingness to provide funding to extend the sonar search.