Air France Airbus A330 - 300 encountered heavy rain . `` Because safety is the paramount concern , airliners do n't fly into storms . CEO : ` ` Several pieces of aircraft equipment were at fault or had broken down '' Some experts have suggested that a lightning strike was a possible cause . Flight 447 , traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris , was carrying 228 people .
Air France Airbus A330 - 300 encountered heavy rain . CEO : ` ` Several pieces of aircraft equipment were at fault or had broken down '' Some experts have suggested that a lightning strike was a possible cause . Flight 447 , traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris , was carrying 228 people .