Air France Concorde Crash Kills 112 People

Strategic Insights -

On July 25, an Air France Concorde supersonic jet crashed into a hotel near the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, resulting in the deaths of at least 108 people on board and four on the ground. Witnesses described a huge fireball and reported hearing a loud bang. The Concorde was at the center of a safety scare just days earlier when British Airways grounded one of its planes due to cracks appearing in its wings.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Concorde crashed into a hotel near the Charles de Gaulle airport, killing 112 people.
  • The jet was at the center of a safety scare after British Airways grounded one of its planes due to cracks appearing in its wings.
  • Cracks were detected in the wings of six other Concordes in BA service, but the aircraft were declared safe by civil aviation experts.
  • The British Civil Aviation Authority will not revise its safety assessment until it receives a report from French aviation authorities on the crash.
  • Air France operates one daily flight to New York, while British Airways operates two daily flights.
  • The Concorde is the flagship of Air France and British Airways fleets, celebrated for its aesthetic form and speed records.
  • The supersonic jet can carry 100 passengers and fly at 1,336 miles an hour and at an altitude of 55,000 feet.
  • The Concorde has set several world records, including the fastest crossing of the Atlantic from New York to London in 2 hours 54 minutes and 45 seconds.

Statistics:

  • At least 108 people on board and four on the ground were killed in the crash.
  • The Concorde was at the center of a safety scare just days earlier.
  • Cracks were detected in the wings of six other Concordes in BA service.
  • The Concorde is capable of carrying 100 passengers.
  • The supersonic jet can fly at 1,336 miles an hour and at an altitude of 55,000 feet.
  • The Concorde has set the fastest crossing of the Atlantic from New York to London in 2 hours 54 minutes and 45 seconds.

Sources:

  • UPI (Union of International Press) - July 25
  • British Civil Aviation Authority - quoted in UPI article
  • Industry sources - quoted in UPI article
  • Air France - quoted in UPI article
  • British Airways - quoted in UPI article
  • COMTEX (http://www.comtexnews.com) - news provider