France appoints plane crash 'ambassador'

PARIS: France says it is appointing an 'ambassador' to help coordinate the investigation into the Air France Flight 447 plane crash.

French Foreign Ministry official Pierre-Jean Vandoorne will also be responsible for dealings with the victims' families. A total of 228 people were on the flight that disappeared May 31 en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

In a statement Sunday, Prime Minister Francois Fillon's office said Vandoorne's mission will be to ``facilitate (the families') relations'' with Air France and government officials.

The statement said a French frigate and helicopter have arrived in the Atlantic Ocean area where Brazilian experts are searching for the plane's wreckage. A French attack submarine is expected to arrive Wednesday to help in the search.