Terrifying Ordeal

The ATR-72 that ditched into the Mediterranean sea off the coast of Sicily Saturday had suffered failure of both engines, forcing it down short of the Palermo Airport. The most recent reports indicate that 23 of the 39 on board survived the crash. At least 13 bodies have been recovered, and three are reported as missing.

The pilot, identified as Chafik Gharbi, has 25 years of experience, with ten years flying ATRs, according to Tuninter director Tlili Mohamed Ali. He told a news conference in Tunis that Gharbi ditched because 'the engine gave out before he could reach the airstrip.' He said the pilot suffered a vertebral fracture and trauma to the head and chest.

"They told us they had to make an emergency landing. Then there was panic. Everyone struggled to get their life jackets on,'' said Passenger Roberto Fusco from his bed at Villa Sofia Hospital, where he was being treated for minor arm and leg injuries.

According to media reports, he took a deep breath, released his seat belt and plunged into the water. When he surfaced, a fellow passenger helped him and his girlfriend onto a wing. "I saw the pilot on the wing,'' Fusco said. "He was in a terrible state. He had blood all over his face.''

The search continued for the missing on Sunday. The nose and tail sections of the plane sank after the plane broke up, but much of the fuselage, including one wing has already been recovered. The flight data recorder has not been found.

16 of the 23 survivors were being treated at the Civic Hospital, but none suffered life-threatening injuries, said Dr. Mario Re, head of the hospital's intensive care unit. The pilot, co-pilot, a flight attendant and two passengers were the most seriously injured.

Palermo Prosecutor Piero Grasso said authorities had ruled out terrorism. The plane apparently hit the water intact, but the tail broke off from the main wreckage hours later, rescuers said.

The crash will be investigated by ENAV, Italian prosecutors and Tunisian authorities.

The ATR-72, which was built in France, has a two-person crew and seats up to 74 passengers. Its maiden flight was in 1988. The plane was delivered to Tuninter in 1992 and had flown 29,710 hours, said ATR in a statement.

FMI: www.tunisair.com.tn, www.atraircraft.com