1.   Sweaney, who piloted the doomed aircraft, was the most experienced Osprey pilot in the service.

2.   The work had been halted a week ago after cancer-causing asbestos from the doomed aircraft was found in the engines, officials said.

3.   Five Chinese insurance companies which had sold insurance to passengers of the doomed aircraft were preparing compensation packages, the China Daily said.

4.   In Geneva, a spokeswoman for the company which owned the plane said all the passengers on the doomed aircraft were Swiss nationals.

5.   Boeing Corp. is the maker of the doomed aircraft.

6.   Two Nigerian directors on the French industrial group CFAO were also on board the doomed aircraft.

7.   Those on board the doomed aircraft were said to be mainly retired French people returning from a hunting trip in the Niokolo-Kobe national park.