FRANCE: BEREAVED FROM EIGHTEEN NATIONS ATTEND FUNERAL SERVICE FOR DEAD OF THE TURKISH DE-10 CRASH

Record ID: 343144

  • Title: FRANCE: BEREAVED FROM EIGHTEEN NATIONS ATTEND FUNERAL SERVICE FOR DEAD OF THE TURKISH DE-10 CRASH
  • Date: 10th May 1974
  • Summary: 1. GV & GV TILT UP Memorial and Flags (2 shots) 0.11 2. SVs SV PAN & CUs Wreaths of flowers (6 shots) 0.35 3. GV & SV Priests from may countries (2 shots) 0.48 4. GV & MV Congregation seated (2 shots) 0.53 5. GV Priests conduct service as congregation listen (3 shots) 1.02 6. MV PAN Priests 1.09 7. GV PAN Congregation standi
  • Embargoed: 25th May 1974 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: THIAIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA1VHA0WX1EHRE7TYHOWFS9H3E4
  • Story Text: More than one thousand grieving relatives from eighteen countries came to the small cemetery of Thiais, within earshot of Orly airport, for the funeral service for two hundred unidentified victims of the Turkish DC-10 disaster in france last March.

    A Christian ecumenical service was followed by Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu rites. And in a moving climax of the ceremony, the relatives of tall the nations led by their ambassadors and Government representatives walked in slow procession down a long line of poplars to lay their wreaths.

    Some carried pictures of dead sons or daughters. Several Turkish women were led away wailing uncontrollably.

    The French Minister of State for Transport M. Aymar Achille-Fould told the bereaved: "May those of you who weep here for your loved ones know that France, too, looks on them as her own children". Part of his address was drowned but by the noise of a giant airliner in full view of the crowd. Some relatives have objected to burying the victims only two-and-a-half-miles (4 kilometers) from Orly, the airport from which the DC-10 took off on March 3 on its way from Paris to London. The crash in Ermenonville Forest soon after take-off killed 345 people -- the worst disaster in civil aviation.

    The actual interment of the 200 physically unidentified victims will take place next week in two mass graves. French authorities believed that if the burials had followed immediately after the funeral service it would only have added to the distress of the relative.

    SYNOPSIS: Thiais cemetery near Paris, where on Thursday they held a funeral service for two hundred unidentified victims of the worst disaster in airline history. Bereaved relatives came from eighteen countries.

    The enormous wreaths were a tribute to the memory of those who died. Three-hundred-and-forty-six people were killed when the Turkish DC-10 crashed into the Forest of Ermenonville, soon after take-off from Orly airport on the way to London on March third.

    Priests from many religions came to give the comfort of their faith. The burials will be next week. French authorities said immediate interment would only distress relatives more. About one thousand relatives made their way to this small cemetery two miles from Orly Airport.

    The service began with an inter-denominational Christian ceremony with prayers read by Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Greek Orthodox priests. Then Moslem priests intoned the words "Allah Ahkbar" -- God is Great. The sound on a single bell marked the start of prayers for the Japanese Buddhists. They were followed by a Hindu priest and a Rabbi.

    Aircraft noise was heard throughout the service.

    The climax came with a procession of the relatives of all the nations, led by priests, ambassadors and Government representatives.

    Many held pictures of relatives they had lost.

    Many sobbed quietly--some wailed uncontrollably. Earlier the French Transport Minister told mourners that France looked on the dead as her own children. Part of his address was drowned by aircraft noise.
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