Search for Swissair diamonds angers relatives

The father of a woman killed in the 1998 Swissair disaster has criticised plans by the Lloyds insurance company to recover a cargo of diamonds and jewellery from the crash site.

Lloyds have applied to the Canadian Authorities for a licence to search the seabed off Nova Scotia for the treasure, which is said to be worth around 300 million dollars. But Ian Shaw, whose daughter was amongst the 229 victims on board Swissair flight 111, is calling on Nova Scotia’s regional government to deny the application.

Shaw insists that no one should be allowed to rake over the crash site. He added that he had spoken to other relatives who had reacted to the planned search with dismay and disgust. A minister for the regional government said a decision would be reached within a few weeks.

The two kilograms of diamonds were being transported in a rustproof steel container, according to a report by the Canadian Press news agency. The container was not found during the operation to recover the plane’s wreckage and the remains of the victims. It is believed that the box was either destroyed on impact or was washed out into deeper water.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.


swissinfo with agencies