Dubai: When Ana Negra Barrabeig, 28, bid goodbye to her new husband at the airport in Brazil, little did she know the tragedy that awaited her.
After her marriage on May 6, Ana, a Spanish national based in Dubai, had been honeymooning in Brazil.
Her husband Javier Álvarez had to report back for work in Dubai and she decided to fly back to Barcelona from Rio de Janeiro via Paris to join family and friends.
Javier arrived in the UAE on Monday morning and discovered to his horror the same day that Ana was aboard the ill-fated Air France flight 447 that had gone missing. The last contact with the aircraft was reported in the early hours of Monday.
The 216 passengers on the flight included seven children and one baby, Air France said. Most of them were French or Brazilians but they included around 20 Germans and a small smattering of people from other countries. Twelve crew members were also on board.
Alvaro Oteyza, a close friend who has known Ana for 10 years, told Gulf News that Álvarez took the first flight out to Barcelona to be with his family.
"Both Javier and Ana are from Barcelona. So far it has been impossible to get in touch with Javier. I just pray that Ana will come out of the entire tragedy unscathed," Oteyza said.
Gulf News contacted Ana's employer at Oliver Wyman, a management consultancy firm based in Dubai Media City, but they declined to comment.
A spokesperson at the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed that two Spanish nationals were aboard the flight, and that only one of them was a resident of the UAE.
With additional inputs by Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter, and Reuters.
Your comments
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Faisal Baig
Daska,Pakistan
Posted: June 03, 2009, 14:19
It is really sad ,I hope all will be save, God will help them wherever they will be.
Aisha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 13:57
" It's pathetic, stunning and no words to speak "
Vishnuvardhan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 13:30
Anna, rest in peace. All the strength to Javier and Anna's family and friends in these difficult times. We share your pain.
Gerard
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 13:28
i am very disappointed about this issue i pray to God save him because the relatives waiting for him.i hope God will save him.this is very painful tragedy.thamks butt
Erfan Butt
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 13:25
I believe the should send out a full search party should be dispatched right away. Any of the passengers could be on rafts or life boats floating around the water kilometers apart. Hope should not be given up.
God bless them and be with them during these difficult times.
Sara
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 13:22
It was a tragic event. What we could do is to pray for their soul.
Giri
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 13:04
I just wonder what can be the real cause of this catastrophe.if it reamins unresolved people will be scared to board the flights.May Allah save us all from such tragedic accidents.
Nadeem
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 12:45
When it's time to go, it's time to go.
Chamlika
Sharjah,U.A.E
Posted: June 03, 2009, 12:38
I am very disappointed about this matter. I hope they are all saved.
Emran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 03, 2009, 11:21
