Brazil sinks rusting old aircraft carrier in the Atlantic

FILE PHOTO: Brazilian aircraft carrier Sao Paulo is seen in this handout picture, June 7, 2011. Brazilian Navy/Handout via REUTERS

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil sank a decommissioned aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean off its northeast coast, the Brazilian Navy said, despite warnings from environmentalists that the rusting 1960s French-built ship would pollute the sea and the marine food chain.

The 32,000-tonne carrier had been floating offshore for three months since Turkey refused it entry to be scrapped there because it was an environmental hazard and the ship was towed back to Brazil.