Averting tragedy

Rescue stories with happy endings are far too rare these days. But two recent near-tragedies show how resourcefulness and quick thinking can save lives.

An Air France flight from Paris skidded past the end of the runway in Toronto, broke apart and burst into flames. But tragedy was avoided when all 309 passengers managed to escape with only 43 minor injuries. Many of the passengers credited the plane's crew with an emergency plan that got everyone off in just a couple of minutes.

Another rescue halfway around the globe brought seven Russian sailors to safety after their minisubmarine got tangled in underwater cables during a training exercise. Much of the world recalled the August 2000 Kursk disaster, when all 118 crew members aboard were lost after that sub was disabled and officials of the Russian navy waited too long to request international assistance.

This time, Russian officials quickly sought aid from Britain and the United States. The U.S. dispatched underwater vehicles to the Pacific Ocean site, but a British unmanned vehicle reached the tangled minisub first and was able to cut away the cables.

Even with these spectacular rescues, the world is left to ponder and wait for answers regarding the crash this week of Cypriot airliner in Greece. Authorities are continuing to look for reasons why two people were seen in the cockpit trying to take control of the plane just before it crashed in mountains north of Athens.