USA: REACTION TO LOSS OF PLANE CARRYING RON BROWN

(3 Apr 1996) English/Nat
US President Bill Clinton has visited the family of U-S Commerce Secretary Ron Brown following the loss of his plane off Croatia.
Relatives, friends and colleagues have been struggling to come to terms with news of the crash.
And Ron Brown's son, Michael, thanked all of those who'd sent messages of support.
News of the plane crash came through quickly to the family and friends of U-S Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown who gathered at the Brown's home in north-west Washington Wednesday.
There were emotional scenes as friends arrived to comfort the family.
The family was told that wreckage had been spotted in the Adriatic Sea, near the port of Dubrovnik in Croatia but there was no confirmation that it was from the aircraft that was carrying eleven U-S industry chiefs as well as Ron Brown.
SOUNDBITE:
"Good morning everyone. There is obviously a great deal of concern here at the White House about the reports that I'm sure you have all seen that Secretary Ron Brown's aircraft is unaccounted for, flight as part of his delegation that he has been leading in former Yugoslavia."
SUPER CAPTION: Mike McCurry, White House Spokesperson
The plane, a T-43, the military version of a Boeing 737, had been en route to Dubrovnik from Tuzla in northeastern Bosnia.
SOUNDBITE:
"There is a report now, that we can confirm now, that there is wreckage in the water but we cannot confirm at this point that that wreckage is in fact Secretary Brown's plane."
SUPER CAPTION: Mike McCurry, White House Spokesperson
Shocked family and friends at the Brown's home were told the plane had crashed at sea in stormy conditions.
A neighbour spoke fondly of the man he said was too busy to spend a lot of time in the neighbourhood.
SOUNDBITE:
He's a very busy man. He's a guy that doesn't actually, you know hasn't much time in the neighbourhood. But when he's here he's a very neighbourly guy.
SUPER CAPTION: Whiteford Boyle, Brown's Neighbour
From Ron Brown's son, a brief statement to thank those who'd sent messages of support.
SOUNDBITE:
First of all I'm not going to take any questions. I want to thank everyone who has called in, who has faxed us, thank you very much for your well wishes. We are still very hopeful, but we are pessimistically optimistic. We will give you further word later. Thank you very much and again thank you very much everyone for your well wishes and we will be in touch.
SUPER CAPTION: Michael Brown, son
The family continues to wait and watch for news.
Later, the President and First Lady came to visit the family.
Bill and Hillary Clinton left, as they had arrived: looking shocked and saying nothing to the waiting media.
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