Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Continental on trial for Concorde Paris crash
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Continental on trial for Concorde Paris crash
AFP - Monday, February 1
Send
IM Story
Print
Photo taken in 2000 at Gonesse shows part of the nose cone after an Air France concorde crashed during take-off killing 113 people. US airline Continental and two of its employees go on trial this week for the manslaughter of 113 people who died in a Concorde crash that put an end to the dream of supersonic travel.
PARIS (AFP) - – US airline Continental and two of its employees go on trial this week for the manslaughter of 113 people who died in a Concorde crash that put an end to the dream of supersonic travel.
A former French civil aviation official and two senior members of the Concorde programme will be tried on the same charge from Tuesday in a court near Paris, with proceedings expected to last four months.
The New York-bound jet crashed in a ball of fire shortly after take-off from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on July 25, 2000, killing all 109 people on board -- most of them Germans -- and four hotel workers on the ground.
The blazing Concorde demolished an airport hotel when it hurtled to the ground in a crash that marked the beginning of the end for the world's first -- and thus far only -- regular supersonic jet service.
Air France and British Airways grounded their Concordes for 15 months after the crash and, after a brief resumption, finally put an end to supersonic commercial service in 2003.
The plane, born of British and French collaboration, embarked on its maiden commercial flight in 1976. Only 20 were manufactured: six were used for development and the remaining 14 flew mainly trans-Atlantic routes at speeds of up to 1,350 miles (2,170 kilometres) per hour.
A French accident inquiry concluded in December 2004 that the Paris disaster was partly caused by a strip of metal that fell on the runway from a Continental Airlines DC-10 plane that took off just before the supersonic jet.
The Concorde, most of whose German passengers were due to board a Caribbean cruise ship in New York, ran over the super-hard titanium strip, which shredded one of its tyres, causing a blow-out and sending debris flying into an engine and a fuel tank.
Continental is charged over a failure to properly maintain its aircraft, along with two US employees: John Taylor, a mechanic who allegedly fitted the non-standard strip, and airline chief of maintenance Stanley Ford.
An arrest warrant was issued for Taylor after he failed to show up to be questioned by investigators here, and, according to his lawyer, he will not be attending the trial in the court in Pontoise, northwest of Paris.
Taylor's lawyer declined to say if his client would show up in court.
The former Concorde officials and French aviation boss are also accused of failing to detect and set right faults on the supersonic aircraft, brought to light during the investigation and thought to have contributed to the crash.
Henri Perrier was director of the first Concorde programme at Aerospatiale, now part of the EADS group, from 1978 to 1994, while Jacques Herubel was Concorde's chief engineer from 1993 to 1995.
Both men are accused of ignoring warning signs from a string of incidents on Concorde planes, which during their 27 years of service suffered dozens of tyre blowouts or wheel damage that in several cases pierced the fuel tanks.
Finally Claude Frantzen, director of technical services at the French civil aviation authority DGAC from 1970 to 1994, is accused of overlooking a fault on Concorde's distinctive delta-shaped wings, which held its fuel tanks.
The trial will seek to pin down the share of responsibility of the US airline, the Concorde and French aviation officials.
Most of the victims' families agreed not to take legal action in exchange for compensation from Air France, EADS, Continental and the Goodyear tyre manufacturer.
The amount they received has not been made public, but reports said that around 100 million dollars was shared out among some 700 relatives of the dead.
Throughout the eight-year investigation, Continental pledged to fight any charges in the case.
"Several witnesses have said the fire on the Concorde began when the plane was 800 metres (2,600 feet) away from the part (metal strip)," said Olivier Metzner, a lawyer for Continental.
To prove this he said he plans to show the court a three-dimensional reconstruction of the crash.
Roland Rappaport, a lawyer for the family of the Concorde pilot Christian Marty, said that "the accident should have been avoided."
"Concorde's weaknesses had been known about for more than 20 years," he said.
A successful prosecution would result in a maximum fine of 375,000 euros for the airline and up to five years in jail and a fine of up to 75,000 euros for the individuals involved.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
News Search
Top Stories
Healthy adults need less sleep as they age: study
Continental on trial for Concorde Paris crash
Brazil's fortunes slump on bubble fears, China tightening
IMF plans 100 billion fund to help poor mitigate climate impact
Bankers leave Davos battered by blame game
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Federer makes it 16 slams with Murray win
Gandhi ashes scattered off South Africa
GlaxoSmithKline to axe 4,000 jobs in US, Europe
Brazil's fortunes slump on bubble fears, China tightening
Bankers leave Davos battered by blame game
More Most Viewed »
Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100
Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 1 February 2010 Israel: Slain Hamas leader key arms smuggler
Swiss wins Libya jail term appeal in sign of easing rift
IMF plans 100 billion fund to help poor mitigate climate impact
Jordan arrests militants linked to Israeli attack
Ukraine's Tymoshenko accuses rival
Gunmen kill 13 students at party in Mexico
|
Police detain opposition leader at anti-Kremlin rally
|
British kidnap couple in Somalia need urgent help
Ten Americans Held In Haiti On Child Trafficking Suspicions
U.N.'s Ban arrives in Cyprus to push elusive deal
|
African summit hears world ignoring Somalia crisis
|
White House Identifies $20 Billion In Possible Budget Cuts
Yemen clashes continue, ceasefire offer rejected
|
EU's Ashton says Iran worrying, U.N. next route
|
CAR president confirms rebel leader's death
|
Florida gov: Flights continue out of Haiti
US to consider local views on 9/11 trial location
Md. polar bear plunge canceled due to extreme cold
U.N. political chief to visit North Korea next month
Furloughs hurt military's view of Hawaii schools
Sri Lanka's Tamils left to wonder what comes next
Do rings of Herbie the elm have age, climate data?
Afghan leader appeals to Taliban to lay down guns
Brown would like daughter back on 'American Idol'
Problems at Toyota, JAL taint Japan Inc.'s image
States begin offering Mega Millions, Powerball tix
Pakistan investigates report Taliban chief is dead
Pakistan Taliban deny leader Hakimullah killed
Axelrod: No House outburst to Obama speech unusual
Gibbs: Cost of Obama's jobs push in range of $100B
Pakistan checks reported death of Taliban chief
Who to watch in private space taxi field
Clive parties; Ke$ha shares Grammy dreams
`Avatar' wins box office, nears domestic record
Egypt set to unveil Tutankhamun DNA results
CNN's Candy Crowley to lead network's Sunday show
Metallica rocks Latin America
Avatar breaks $2 billion at worldwide box office
|
German city unveils redesigned Chipperfield museum
Beyonce poised to add to Grammy total
It's ladies' night at the Grammys
India steps up scramble with China for African energy
US casualties in Afghanistan sow seeds of anger
British kidnap couple poorly treated, need urgent help
Gunmen kill 14 at high school party in Mexico
|
Fears Australian piracy case could shut off net
Continental on trial for Concorde Paris crash
Dubai police say Mossad may have killed Hamas chief
Rewriting European privacy law for digital age
Brazil's fortunes slump on bubble fears, China tightening
Egypt arrests 26 suspected of plotting terrorism
|
Smartphone competition to bite in 2010 after Q4 boom
|
Researchers to challenge Japan's whale science
Afghan officials: 7 militants killed in south
64 pct Australian population rise expected by 2050
Air Force: Test missile misses its Pacific target
Malaysia plans IDs for refugees to prevent arrest
China govt opens cracks in its culture of secrecy
Body found near San Diego may be missing toddler
Afghan police repel suicide attack in south
Conn. home invasion suspect has medical emergency
SKorea businessman murdered in Philippines: police
2 Koreas hold talks despite military tensions
Obama's $3.8 trillion budget heading to Congress
Vietnam condemns 4 to death for trafficking heroin
Man to plead not guilty in new abuse charges
Medical assistance flights from Haiti resuming
China intensifies clampdown on media: watchdog
Man who attacked NJ rabbi is sentenced to 8 years
'Avatar' wins box office, nears domestic record
S.Korea Feb crude runs seen steady from Jan -survey
Management guru takes charge of Japan Airlines
SKorea exports post biggest gain in over 2 decades
Asia now world's biggest air travel market: IATA
South Korean Jan exports disappoint; China a worry
Stars come out for British premiere of Mandela rugby film
Ford's China production resumes after pedal review
Toyota prepares to roll out pedal repairs
PAKISTAN
NZ commodity prices up 11th month in Jan -survey
Seoul shares turn lower weighed by techs; autos up
Taylor Swift, Beyonce make Grammy history
|
Grammys go 3-D for Michael Jackson tribute
|
Steven Tyler eyes suit to stop Aerosmith replacement
|
Bob Marley's spirit lives on at Grammys
|
Grammys grouch Neil Young finally wins an award
|
Taylor Swift, Beyonce make Grammy history
Beyonce's six appeal dominates Grammys
Taylor Swift wins Grammy for album of the year
|
Grammys grouch Neil Young finally wins an award
The view from inside (and outside) the Grammys
Taylor Swift, Beyonce rule the Grammy Awards
Lady Gaga's fashion sense captivates Grammy show
Taylor Swift wins Grammy for album of the year
Jackson's 3-D tribute is a hit at Grammy Awards
Grammys go 3-D for Michael Jackson tribute
Colbert hosts Grammys, wins 1
Death toll from suicide bomber rises to 41 in Iraq
Suicide bomber kills 41 Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq
|
US-TECH Summary
Toyota prepares to roll out pedal repairs
Israelis disciplined in Gaza artillery fire
Healthy adults need less sleep as they age: study
Yemen rebels deny mounting sniper attacks in Saudi
|
Female suicide bomber kills 41 in Baghdad
China fumes at latest U.S. arms sales to Taiwan
|
Female suicide bomber hits Iraq pilgrims, kills 46
Israel reprimands two top officers over Gaza war
Iran pays homage to Khomeini amid political tensions
Abbas offers talks with Israel if building halted
|
Afghan bombing kills US soldier: NATO
U.S. to resume Haiti medevac flights
|
Iran top judge rejects political hanging pressure
|
Somali rebels unite, profess loyalty to al Qaeda
|
Israeli general reprimanded over Gaza war shelling
|
EU's Ashton says Iran worrying, U.N. next route
|
US, Thailand begin 6-nation military exercise
2 Koreas hold talks days after exchanging gunfire
Indonesian court clears boy of bee prank
Gaps emerging in US census outreach to immigrants
Mystery over fate of Pakistani Taliban leader
China's interests may limit sanctions on US firms
The nation's weather
Kashmir police, protesters clash after boy's death
OR riverboat carrying 80 passengers runs aground
North Korean weapons mystery continues
Nokia cuts phone prices as market growth returns
|
Obama to release budget Monday, go on YouTube
Communist rebels in Philippines kill 5 soldiers
China tells Tibet envoys no compromise on sovereignty
Obama export goals doable, job creation tougher
Analysis: Dems' missteps led to health breakdown
Shanghai women revisit 'In the Mood for Love'
Idaho church prays for Americans held in Haiti
Hispanic media outreach for Haiti unprecedented
Toyota unveils repairs plan
David vs Goliath as Oscars race heats up
Pakistani rupee at new lows, may lose more vs dollar
Japan's auto sales grow at fastest pace in decades
JAL to decide on alliance partner soon
Indian auto makers show strong sales in January
SKorea exports post biggest gain in over 2 decades
Tengzhong agrees with GM to extend Hummer deadline
China manufacturing expands at fastest pace
Actor Rip Torn has court date for burglary charge
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
33 feared drowned in Indonesia boat sinking
British author calls for assisted suicide panel
Jacko's glittery glove makes debut in Macau
Cuban band back in Miami after violent '99 protest
David vs Goliath as Oscars race heats up
'Lost Booker Prize' to be awarded for 1970 novel
LA megachurch hopes to win Super Bowl ad contest
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights