All language subtitles for Air.Disasters.S08E07.Concorde.Up.In.Flames.1080p.PMTP.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-maldini_track4_[eng]

Narrator: FRENCH INVESTIGATORS
FACE AN UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE.

Man: I'LL TELL YOU
EVERYTHING I CAN.

Narrator: THE WORLD'S
FASTEST PASSENGER PLANE

HAS CRASHED ON TAKEOFF.

Man: THEY KNEW THAT
THEY WERE GOING TO DIE.

Pilot: NO TIME!

Man: WHEN ONE FALTERED
AND FELL TO THE GROUND,

IT SHOOK THE WORLD.

Narrator: WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED

THE FIRST FATAL CRASH
OF CONCORDE?

Man: LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE
BLEEDING FUEL.

Narrator:
THE SEARCH FOR AN ANSWER

UNCOVERS THREE CRITICAL CLUES:

A RUPTURED TIRE,

A SHATTERED FUEL TANK,

AND A MYSTERIOUS STRIP OF METAL.

Man: IT DIDN'T LOOK
LIKE ANYTHING

THAT CAME FROM AN AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: BUT CAN INVESTIGATORS
COMPLETE THE PUZZLE?

Man: WE JUST COULDN'T
TIE IT ALL TOGETHER.

Man: THE EVIDENCE
WAS NOT TALKING TO US.

Flight attendant:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH.

Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES!

Flight attendant:
PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE.

EMERGENCY DESCENT.

Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY.

Flight attendant:
BRACE FOR IMPACT!

Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE.

Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING...

Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH!

Narrator: CHARLES DE GAULLE
AIRPORT, PARIS,

ONE OF THE BUSIEST AIRPORTS
IN EUROPE

AND THE ONLY PLACE IN FRANCE
TO CATCH SIGHT

OF THE WORLD'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS
PASSENGER PLANE--

CONCORDE.

Man: IT'S REALLY
A WONDERFUL MACHINE.

IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED
AS A BEAUTIFUL WHITE BIRD.

IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED
AS THE WHITE ROCKET.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

Man: CONCORDE FLYING
WAS A REAL SHOW.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY
WAS WATCHING,

SO IT WAS SPECTACULAR.

IT WAS NOISY AND IT WAS LIKE
GOING TO AN AIR SHOW.

Narrator: CONCORDE
IS A TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL.

THE WORLD'S ONLY
SUPERSONIC AIRLINER,

IT CAN FLY AT MORE THAN
TWICE THE SPEED OF SOUND,

AT ALTITUDES
THAT BRUSH THE EDGE OF SPACE.

Bob Macintosh: WE TALK ABOUT
FLYING ABOVE 55,000 FEET

INTO A DEEP, DEEP BLUE SKY.

IT'S A VERY, VERY
SPECIAL AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: IT TAKES
AN EXCEPTIONAL CREW

TO FLY THIS REMARKABLE PLANE.

Controller: AIR FRANCE 4590,

DO YOU WANT WHISKEY TEN
OR ROMEO?

Jean Marcot: I NEED
ALL THE RUNWAY, EH?

Controller: OK. TAXI FOR ROMEO,

AIR FRANCE 4590.

Narrator: TODAY,
CAPTAIN CHRISTIAN MARTY

WILL BE FLYING THE CONCORDE.

Christian Marty:
CLEAR ON THE RIGHT?

Marcot: ON THE RIGHT IS CLEAR.

Narrator:
FIRST OFFICER JEAN MARCOT

WILL MONITOR THE INSTRUMENTS.

Marcot: NOSE DROOP AT FIVE.

Narrator: THE CREW
LOWERS THE PLANE'S

SLEEK AERODYNAMIC NOSE FOR TAXI.

THOUGH CRUCIAL
FOR SUPERSONIC FLIGHT,

THE LONG BEAK MAKES IT DIFFICULT

FOR THE CREW TO SEE WHERE
THEY'RE GOING ON THE GROUND.

Marty: I'LL GET A BIT OF SPEED
BEFORE TURNING THE BRAKES.

Narrator: WITH MORE THAN 23,000
FLIGHT HOURS BETWEEN THEM,

CAPTAIN MARTY
AND FIRST OFFICER MARCOT

ARE AMONG THE WORLD'S
MOST ELITE PILOTS.

JEAN-LOUIS CHATELAIN WAS ALSO
A MEMBER OF THAT EXCLUSIVE CLUB.

Jean-Louis Chatelain: MANY, MANY
PILOTS ALL OVER THE WORLD

WOULD HAVE LOVED
TO FLY THE CONCORDE,

BUT THERE WERE
ONLY A FEW OF THEM

AND WE WERE ONLY
A FEW, HAPPY FEW,

TO BE ELECTED
ON FLYING THE CONCORDE.

Narrator: THE JET'S MAIDEN
FLIGHT WAS MADE IN 1969--

THE RESULT OF A HISTORIC
AVIATION PARTNERSHIP

BETWEEN BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

A UNIQUE DELTA WING GIVES
CONCORDE ITS SIGNATURE LOOK,

WHILE HELPING TO REDUCE DRAG
AT SUPERSONIC SPEEDS.

BUT THE DESIGN EXACTS
A HIGH COST AT LOW SPEEDS,

MAKING IT HARDER FOR CONCORDE
TO GAIN THE LIFT NECESSARY

TO GET OFF THE GROUND.

Chatelain: DELTA WING IS BIG,

IT'S TREMENDOUS DRAG
ON THE WING,

SO YOU HAVE TO COUNTER THE DRAG

WITH A PRETTY
HIGH LEVEL OF THRUST.

Marty: HOW MUCH FUEL
HAVE WE USED?

Narrator: FLIGHT ENGINEER
GILLES JARDINAUD

KEEPS A VIGILANT EYE
ON FUEL CONSUMPTION.

Gilles Jardinaud:
WE'VE GOT 800 KILOS.

Narrator:
CONCORDE BURNS THROUGH IT
AT AN ASTONISHING RATE.

IN THE SHORT TAXI TO THE RUNWAY,

THE PLANE'S FOUR ENGINES
HAVE ALREADY USED AS MUCH FUEL

AS THE AVERAGE CAR USES
IN SIX MONTHS.

BOOKING A SEAT ON THE FAMED JET
REQUIRES DEEP POCKETS.

THE RETURN FARE TO NEW YORK
COSTS MORE THAN $9,000.

Chatelain: IT WAS NOT
SOMETHING UNAFFORDABLE

FOR THOSE PEOPLE WE HAD
ON BOARD.

SOME OF THEM WOULD TELL YOU

THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
HOW MUCH THEY WERE PAYING.

Controller: AIR FRANCE 4590,
RUNWAY 2-6-RIGHT.

CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF.

Marcot: 4590, CLEARED
FOR TAKEOFF, 2-6-RIGHT.

Narrator: THE TOWER CONTROLLER
TODAY IS GILLES LOGELIN.

Gilles Logelin: I WAS STATIONED
IN THE SOUTHERN CONTROL TOWER,

WHICH HAS A VERY GOOD VIEW OVER
THE TWO RUNWAYS THAT WE USE.

THIS DAY WAS THE SAME AS USUAL.

I GAVE HIM
THE TAKEOFF CLEARANCE.

Marty: EVERYBODY READY?

Marcot: YES.

Narrator: CONCORDE'S TAKEOFF
SPEED IS 228 MILES PER HOUR--

46 MILES FASTER THAN A 747.

Jardinaud: FOUR GREENS.

Narrator: THE PLANE'S
FOUR AFTERBURNERS IGNITE,

GIVING THE ENGINES
THE BOOST THEY NEED

TO ACHIEVE
THAT INCREDIBLE SPEED.

Macintosh: AS IT PASSES YOU,
YOU FEEL IT AND YOU HEAR IT

BECAUSE IT IS LOUD AND STRONG,

AND IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT

TO THE SPECTATOR
AND THE AVIATOR.

Marcot: V-1.

Narrator: THE FIRST OFFICER
TELLS THE CAPTAIN

THEY'VE REACHED V-1,
OR DECISION SPEED.

THEY'RE NOW GOING TOO QUICKLY
TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.

Chatelain:
YOU CANNOT STOP ANYMORE.

YOU HAVE TO GO ON.

YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TAKEOFF
WHATEVER HAPPENS.

Marcot: WATCH OUT!

Narrator: SUDDENLY,
THE PLANE BEGINS VEERING LEFT.

Jardinaud: STOP!

Narrator: THE FLIGHT ENGINEER

URGES THE CAPTAIN
TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF,

BUT IT'S TOO LATE TO STOP.

CAPTAIN MARTY LIFTS
THE SUPERSONIC JET INTO THE AIR.

GILLES LOGELIN REALIZES
HE'S NOW WATCHING A DISASTER.

Logelin: THIS WAS
A VERY UNEXPECTED SITUATION

TO SEE FLAMES ON AN AIRCRAFT
THAT IS DEPARTING ON THE RUNWAY.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LOSE,

SO IMMEDIATELY
I PUSHED THE RED BUTTON,

WHICH IS A BUTTON FOR ALERT.

4590, YOU HAVE FLAMES
BEHIND YOU.

Marcot: ROGER.

Narrator: THE PLANE
IS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

Jardinaud:
FAILURE, ENGINE TWO.

Marcot: ENGINE FIRE PROCEDURE.

Narrator: CAPTAIN MARTY
STRUGGLES FOR CONTROL

AS THE ENGINEER SHUTS DOWN
THE BURNING ENGINE

AND ACTIVATES
A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Marcot: WATCH THE AIRSPEED.

Narrator: THE PLANE'S AIRSPEED
IS NOW DANGEROUSLY LOW.

Marcot: THE AIRSPEED!
THE AIRSPEED!

Chatelain:
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING...

Chatelain: SOMETHING THAT
IS NOT COVERED BY TRAINING,

SOMETHING THAT IN A PILOT CAREER
YOU DON'T WANT TO FACE.

Narrator: LOGELIN SCRAMBLES
TO CLEAR OTHER PLANES

FROM CONCORDE'S PATH.

Logelin: I WANTED
TO CLEAR THE TRAFFIC

TO LET IN ANY OPTION POSSIBLE.

Narrator: FIRST OFFICER MARCOT

WANTS TO HEAD
FOR A NEARBY AIRPORT.

Marcot: LE BOURGET.
LE BOURGET!

Narrator: BUT THE CREW
CAN'T OUTFLY THE FIRE

THAT IS RAPIDLY
CONSUMING THEIR PLANE.

SHOCKING IMAGES
OF THE UNFOLDING DISASTER

ARE CAPTURED BY AMATEUR VIDEO.

IN THE CABIN, PANIC AND TERROR.

Marty: NO TIME!

Narrator: THE SUPERSONIC MARVEL
OF MODERN AVIATION...

Marty: NO!

Narrator:
SLAMS INTO AN AIRPORT HOTEL.

Logelin: MON DIEU.

I COULD SEE KIND OF A BIG,
LIKE A BIG MUSHROOM OF SMOKE.

I THINK,
UNTIL THE VERY LAST MOMENT,

I WAS THINKING THAT SOMETHING
WOULD SAVE THE SITUATION.

I REMEMBER THAT I JUST SAT DOWN

ON THE CARPET FLOOR
OF THE CONTROL TOWER UP THERE,

AND I CRIED.

Narrator: ALL 109 PASSENGERS AND
CREW ON BOARD CONCORDE ARE DEAD.

FOUR MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
KILLED ON THE GROUND.

Chatelain:
HOW CAN I SAY MORE ON THIS?

WE WERE TOTALLY SHOCKED.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT.

Macintosh: IT HAD BEEN
SUCH A SPECIAL THING

IN THE PLACE OF AVIATION

THAT WHEN ONE FALTERED
AND FELL TO THE GROUND,

IT SHOOK THE WORLD.

IT REALLY DID.

Narrator: UNTIL JULY OF 2000,

CONCORDE HAD A REMARKABLE
SAFETY RECORD--

31 YEARS OF SUPERSONIC FLIGHT
AND NOT A SINGLE FATAL CRASH.

Alain Bouillard, translated:
THIS PLANE

WAS SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT,

AND IT WAS A SHOCK
FOR EVERYONE.

Narrator: ALAIN BOUILLARD WILL
LEAD THE CRASH INVESTIGATION.

HE TAKES ON A CHALLENGE

NO INVESTIGATOR BEFORE HIM
HAS FACED:

FIGURING OUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE TECHNOLOGICAL WONDER

THAT HAD SEEMED
IMMUNE TO DISASTER.

THE FUEL-LADEN CONCORDE
HAS IGNITED AN INFERNO.

INVESTIGATORS ARE ANXIOUS TO
SEARCH THE WRECKAGE FOR CLUES,

BUT FIRST, FIREFIGHTERS MUST
PUT OUT THE CATASTROPHIC FIRE.

Bouillard: THE PROBLEM

WAS THE INTENSE HEAT
AT THE CRASH SITE,

WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THE RESCUE SERVICES

TO RECOVER
THE FLIGHT RECORDERS.

Narrator: KNOWING THE EYES
OF THE WORLD ARE WATCHING,

BOUILLARD AND HIS TEAM PRESS
AHEAD WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

THEY SPEAK TO AS MANY
WITNESSES AS POSSIBLE.

Logelin: I'LL TELL YOU
EVERYTHING I CAN.

Narrator: FEW SAW MORE THAN
CONTROLLER GILLES LOGELIN.

Logelin: AFTER AN ACCIDENT,

YOU REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE SECOND
OF THE PROCESS.

I SAW THE FLAMES
JUST BEFORE THEY TOOK OFF.

Narrator: LOGELIN TELLS THEM
HE SAW INTENSE FLAMES

SHOOTING FROM THE PLANE'S
LEFT SIDE BEFORE IT LIFTED OFF.

OTHER WITNESSES REPORT HEARING
THE SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION

WHILE CONCORDE WAS
SPEEDING DOWN THE RUNWAY.

LESS THAN 90 SECONDS LATER,
THE PLANE FELL FROM THE SKY.

ALL BOUILLARD KNOWS FOR SURE

IS THAT SOMETHING
CAUSED THE FIRE

WHILE CONCORDE
WAS STILL ON THE GROUND.

Bouillard: WE BECAME
INTERESTED IN THE RUNWAY

BECAUSE THE EVENT HAPPENED

DURING THE ACCELERATION
FOR TAKEOFF.

Narrator: BOUILLARD IMMEDIATELY
DISPATCHES A TEAM TO THE RUNWAY

TO SEARCH FOR CLUES.

Yann Torres: LOOKS LIKE
THEY WERE BLEEDING FUEL.

Narrator:
CONCORDE HAS LEFT A TRAIL

OF BURNT AND BLACKENED
JET FUEL ALONG THE RUNWAY.

THERE'S ALSO
SOME SCATTERED DEBRIS--

VITAL CLUES
THAT FELL FROM THE PLANE

AT THE VERY START OF THE CRISIS.

Torres, translated:
FIRST OF ALL,

IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT
THERE WERE TRACES OF FIRE

THAT WERE STILL VISIBLE
ON THE RUNWAY,

AS WELL AS TRACES OF FUEL
AND MANY AIRPLANE PARTS.

SO WE HAD TO COLLECT
ALL THESE PARTS

TO PRESERVE THEM
FOR THE INVESTIGATION.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
IN A HANGAR NEAR THE AIRPORT,

INVESTIGATORS SORT THROUGH
SCORCHED WRECKAGE

FROM THE CRASH SITE.

THE PLANE'S TWO BLACK BOXES

HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM
THE BURNED AND TWISTED DEBRIS.

BUT IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY

IF THE DATA ON THE RECORDERS
HAS SURVIVED THE FIRE.

Torres: THERE WAS A HUGE AMOUNT
OF FUEL ON BOARD,

SO THE BOXES WERE EXPOSED
TO INTENSE FLAMES,

WHICH IS THE WORST POSSIBLE
THING FOR FLIGHT RECORDERS.

Narrator: CONCORDE'S BLACK BOXES
ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND

ONLY 30 MINUTES OF INTENSE HEAT.

INVESTIGATORS
RUSH THEM TO THE LAB

AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

Bouillard: PIECES OF TIRE...

Narrator: THE RUNWAY SEARCH

HAS TURNED UP A BAFFLING
ASSORTMENT OF DEBRIS,

INCLUDING A TWISTED METAL STRIP
THAT NO ONE CAN IDENTIFY.

Bouillard: WHAT DO WE
MAKE OF THIS?

WE WERE DEALING WITH
A VERY COMPLICATED PLANE

THAT HAD BEEN COMPLETELY
DESTROYED BY FIRE.

THERE WERE
VERY FEW PIECES LEFT.

I KNOW THIS
IS A PIECE OF THE FUEL TANK.

Torres: AMONG THE FIRST PIECES
RECOVERED FROM THE SITE

WAS A PART THAT
WAS QUICKLY IDENTIFIED

AS BEING FROM
ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS.

Narrator: CONCORDE
HAS 13 FUEL TANKS--

ONE IN THE TAIL SECTION

AND 12 MORE
THAT COMBINE TO FILL

ALMOST THE ENTIRE DELTA WING.

FINDING A FRAGMENT
OF A FUEL TANK ON THE RUNWAY

IS AN IMPORTANT CLUE.

Marcot: V-1.

Narrator: IT MEANS AT LEAST ONE
OF THE PLANE'S 13 TANKS...

Marcot: WATCH OUT!

Narrator:
...RUPTURED DURING TAKEOFF.

BOUILLARD STUDIES VIDEO
OF CONCORDE'S LAST MOMENTS,

SHOT BY A PASSING TRUCK DRIVER.

Bouillard: IT MUST HAVE BEEN
A MASSIVE FUEL LEAK.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLAIN
A FIRE LIKE THAT.

Narrator:
THE LONG PLUME OF FLAMES

CONFIRMS A LARGE LEAK
FROM THE FUEL TANK

IS THE LIKELY SOURCE
OF THE FIRE.

Bouillard: THE SCALE OF THE LEAK
MIXED WITH THE SURROUNDING AIR

IS AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE MIX,

EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE.

Narrator: BUT BOUILLARD
STILL HAS NO IDEA

WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED
SUCH A MASSIVE LEAK.

FORTUNATELY, TECHNICIANS
HAVE MANAGED TO SALVAGE

THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDING.

Bouillard:
OK, LET'S GET GOING.

Narrator: BOUILLARD HOPES

THE PILOTS' CONVERSATION
IN THE COCKPIT

WILL SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE
PUZZLING COLLECTION OF LEADS.

Marty: EVERYBODY READY?

Marcot: YES.

Narrator:
EVERYTHING SEEMS NORMAL

AS THE PILOTS
PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF.

Jardinaud: FOUR GREEN.

Marcot: V-1.

Narrator:
BUT JUST BEFORE LIFTOFF,

THERE'S A LOUD NOISE.

Marcot: WATCH OUT!

Bouillard: THAT SOUNDED LIKE
SOME KIND OF EXPLOSION.

PLEASE GO BACK AGAIN.

Marcot: WATCH OUT!

Jardinaud: STOP!

Logelin: 4590,
YOU HAVE FLAMES BEHIND YOU.

Marcot: ROGER.

Jardinaud:
FAILURE, ENGINE TWO.

Bouillard: THE COCKPIT
VOICE RECORDER SHOWED

THE CREW ONLY BECAME AWARE

OF THE FIRE
AT THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT

WHEN THE CONTROL TOWER
WARNED THEM ABOUT IT.

Narrator:
BOUILLARD THINKS HE KNOWS

THE MOMENT THE FIRE BEGAN,

BUT HE STILL DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT CAUSED IT.

Macintosh: I WOULD LOVE TO GET
A LOOK AT THAT RUNWAY DEBRIS.

Narrator: BECAUSE CONCORDE

INCLUDES PARTS
THAT ARE AMERICAN MADE,

THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY BOARD

SENDS BOB MACINTOSH
TO JOIN THE TEAM.

Bob Macintosh: IT'S UNIQUE THAT
A FRENCH AIRPLANE ON FRENCH SOIL

WOULD HAVE A UNITED STATES
REPRESENTATIVE,

BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED

WITH UNITED STATES MANUFACTURED
AND DESIGNED TIRES.

Narrator: AMONG THE DEBRIS
FOUND ON THE RUNWAY

ARE LARGE TORN PIECES
OF AIRCRAFT TIRE--

SOME WEIGHING
MORE THAN NINE POUNDS.

Macintosh:
LOOKS LIKE A BLOWOUT.

Narrator: TO SUPPORT
THE HUGE WEIGHT OF THE PLANE

AND WITHSTAND THE HEAT
GENERATED DURING TAKEOFF,

CONCORDE'S TIRES ARE REINFORCED
WITH A STRONG RUBBER BELT

AND FILLED WITH
HIGH-PRESSURE NITROGEN.

Macintosh:
AIRPLANE TIRES IN GENERAL

CERTAINLY ARE DIFFERENT
THAN THOSE IN AN AUTOMOBILE.

THEY HAVE TO WITHSTAND
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WEIGHT--

FOR INSTANCE THE CONCORDE,
135,000 TONS.

THESE ARE
HEAVY, HEAVY DUTY TIRES.

Narrator:
WHEN CONCORDE TIRES RUPTURE,

THEY CAN ACT LIKE SMALL BOMBS.

Bouillard: MAYBE
A PIECE OF THE TIRE FLEW UP

AND BURST THE FUEL TANK
HERE IN THE WING.

Marcot: WATCH OUT!

Macintosh: THE FORCE WITH WHICH
A TIRE MIGHT EXPLODE

IS NOT SIMPLY
GOING TO BE A BLOWOUT.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF STRUCTURE
AND RUBBER BELT AROUND THE TIRE

THAT'S PROBABLY
GOING TO SEPARATE,

AND THAT'S, OF COURSE,
A POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE.

Narrator: A LOOK
AT CONCORDE'S HISTORY

TURNS UP SIX INCIDENTS
OF A TIRE RUPTURING

AND DAMAGING A FUEL TANK.

Torres: WE UNCOVERED
MANY INCIDENTS

WHERE TIRES WERE PUNCTURED
OR DESTROYED

AND, IN SOME CASES,
THE RIMS AS WELL.

Narrator: THE MOST SERIOUS
INCIDENT WAS IN 1979,

WHEN A RUPTURED TIRE
DAMAGED A FUEL TANK SO SEVERELY

THAT THE CREW WAS FORCED TO LAND
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.

TO PREVENT A REOCCURRENCE,

AUTHORITIES MANDATED
THAT CONCORDE TIRES

BE REPLACED
MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY.

SO WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED
A RELATIVELY NEW TIRE

TO RUPTURE ON TAKEOFF?

INVESTIGATORS TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

AT THE METAL DEBRIS
FOUND ON THE RUNWAY.

Bouillard: MAYBE SOMETHING
CUT INTO THE TIRE,

SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

Torres: THE SHAPE OF THE METAL
STRIP THAT WE FOUND

WAS EXACTLY THE SAME SHAPE
AS THE TIRE DEBRIS.

Macintosh: THERE WERE A LOT
OF THEORIES FLYING AROUND

IN THE FIRST TWO OR THREE DAYS

AS TO CAUSE AND EFFECT
OF THE TIRE,

OF THE METAL STRIP,

AND OF THE FUEL
THAT WAS LIBERATED

FROM THE LEFT SIDE
OF THE AIRPLANE.

Bouillard:
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS

AND WHERE IT CAME FROM.

OH. AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH
A FULLY LOADED CONCORDE WEIGHS.

THERE'S SOMETHING
I WANT TO TRY.

Reporter: THIS WAS THE SCENE

AFTER JULY'S CONCORDE CRASH
NEAR PARIS.

Narrator:
NEWS OF THE DOWNED CONCORDE

HAS STUNNED TRAVELERS

AND AVIATION INSIDERS
AROUND THE WORLD.

THE FRENCH
TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY

GROUNDS THE NATION'S
ENTIRE FLEET.

BRITISH AIRWAYS
SOON FOLLOWS SUIT.

Reporter: IN LONDON ON FRIDAY,

BRITISH AIRWAYS' FLEET
OF CONCORDES REMAINED GROUNDED

AND DEPENDING ON
THE INVESTIGATION'S FINDINGS,

THEY MAY NEVER FLY AGAIN.

Macintosh:
THAT WAS A MAJOR BLOW,

PARTICULARLY TO THE UK OPERATOR,
BRITISH AIRWAYS.

AIR FRANCE HAD EXPECTED IT,
I THINK, ALL ALONG.

Narrator: WHETHER THE PRIDE
OF FRENCH AND BRITISH AVIATION

WILL EVER FLY AGAIN

NOW DEPENDS ENTIRELY

ON WHAT BOUILLARD
AND HIS TEAM CAN UNCOVER.

Torres:
THERE WAS LOTS OF MEDIA PRESSURE

BECAUSE IT WAS A FAMOUS PLANE.

IT WAS THE ONLY
SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT,

AND IT WAS THE CONCORDE'S
FIRST FATAL ACCIDENT.

Narrator:
FACING ENORMOUS PRESSURE,

THEY FOCUS ON
THE MYSTERIOUS STRIP OF METAL

FOUND NEAR
THE TOP OF THE RUNWAY.

Macintosh: IT DIDN'T
LOOK LIKE ANYTHING

THAT CAME FROM
AN AIRCRAFT TO ME.

IT WAS BENT IN SUCH A SHAPE
THAT IT WAS REALLY STRANGE,

AND WE WERE ALL WONDERING
IF IT WAS SOMETHING

THAT PERHAPS HAD FALLEN OFF
A RUNWAY SWEEPER

OR IF IT HAD FALLEN OUT
OF A CONSTRUCTION TRUCK,

A BAGGAGE CART

THAT WAS BEING TOWED AROUND
THE AIRPORT SOMEPLACE.

Narrator:
BUT EVIDENCE SOON POINTS THEM

IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

METALLURGICAL TESTS

REVEAL THE STRIP IS MADE
OF LIGHTWEIGHT TITANIUM,

A METAL FREQUENTLY USED
IN AIRCRAFT PARTS.

Torres: IT ALSO HAD A NUMBER
OF RIVETS ON ITS SURFACE,

AND THIS MADE US THINK
IT WAS USED IN AVIATION.

Narrator: A REDDISH-ORANGE
SUBSTANCE ON ONE SIDE

ALSO POINTS TO THE POSSIBILITY

THAT THE PART MAY HAVE
FALLEN OFF AN AIRPLANE.

LAB TESTS REVEAL

IT'S A KIND OF ADHESIVE
OFTEN USED IN AVIATION REPAIRS.

Macintosh: THE MATCHING
OF THE DEBRIS ON THE RUNWAY

WITH THE DAMAGES THAT WERE
OBSERVED IN THE TAKEOFF RUN

WAS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRED
A LOT OF ANALYSIS.

Narrator: SOMEHOW A PIECE
OF METAL FROM AN AIRCRAFT

BECAME A DEADLY HAZARD
ON THE RUNWAY.

Bouillard: NEXT, PLEASE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NEED TO
KNOW WHICH PLANE IT CAME FROM

AND HOW IT ENDED UP THERE.

Bouillard: NEXT.

Macintosh: THERE WAS
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE

IN THE BEA.

Bouillard: NEXT. NEXT.

NEXT.

Macintosh:
...TO GET TO THE BOTTOM

OF WHERE THAT STRIP
HAD COME FROM.

Bouillard: IT'S PRETTY CLEAR
THIS ISN'T FROM THE CONCORDE.

WE NEED TO COME AT THIS
FROM ANOTHER WAY.

Macintosh: I SPENT
MORE THAN TWO WEEKS

AT THE SCENE
OF THE INVESTIGATION,

AND WE STILL DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE IT HAD COME FROM.

Narrator: PAINSTAKING RESEARCH
RULES OUT THE POSSIBILITY

THAT THE METAL STRIP
FELL FROM CONCORDE,

BUT THERE ARE DOZENS
OF OTHER PLANES TO CONSIDER.

BOUILLARD NEEDS
TO NARROW DOWN THE SEARCH.

Bouillard: WHAT I NEED
IS A LIST OF EVERY SINGLE PLANE

THAT USED THE RUNWAY
BEFORE THE CONCORDE TOOK OFF.

Narrator: A BUSY INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT LIKE CHARLES DE GAULLE

HAS HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS ARRIVING
AND DEPARTING EVERY DAY.

Torres: METAL PARTS ARE OFTEN
FOUND ON THE RUNWAY.

PLANES CAN LOSE SMALL PARTS
THAT ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR,

OR SOMETIMES INSPECTION DOORS
AREN'T CLOSED PROPERLY

AND THEY BREAK AWAY
FROM THE PLANE

AND FALL ON THE RUNWAY.

Narrator:
BUT THE AIRPORT'S RUNWAYS

ARE INSPECTED
SEVERAL TIMES A DAY

AND CLEARED OF DEBRIS.

Bouillard: OK,
IT WASN'T THERE IN THE MORNING.

THAT LEAVES THE PLANES
THAT TOOK OFF AFTER 1300.

WE SEARCHED BY ELIMINATION.

WE KNEW THAT IT WAS
A STRIP OF METAL

THAT DIDN'T COME
FROM THE CONCORDE,

IT DIDN'T BELONG
TO ANY GROUND VEHICLES.

SO WE LOOKED AT THE PLANES

THAT HAD TAKEN OFF
BEFORE THE CONCORDE.

Narrator: KNOWING THE TIME
OF THE LAST RUNWAY INSPECTION

ALLOWS BOUILLARD
TO NARROW THE SEARCH

FOR JUST TWO TYPES OF PLANES.

Bouillard: THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.

THAT PART IS EITHER
FROM A 747 OR A DC-10.

LET'S FIGURE OUT WHICH.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
PORE OVER SCHEMATICS

OF THE TWO PLANES,

SEARCHING
FOR THE SUSPICIOUS PART.

Bouillard: THIS ISN'T IT.

Narrator:
FINALLY, THEY SPOT SOMETHING.

Bouillard: WHAT IS THIS?

Narrator: THE METAL STRIP
LOOKS LIKE IT COULD HAVE COME

FROM THE ENGINE OF A DC-10--

SOMETHING CALLED A WEAR STRIP.

THE STRIP ACTS AS A BUFFER FOR
MOVING PARTS INSIDE THE ENGINE,

BUT THEY'RE NOT ESSENTIAL FOR
THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE PLANE.

Macintosh: CERTAINLY THERE WAS
A GREAT DEAL OF ANTICIPATION.

COULD THIS BE REALLY
FROM A DC-10

AND COULD IT BE
FROM THE ENGINE PORTION?

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
CAN'T ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS

SOON ENOUGH,

AS THE ENTIRE WORLD
WAITS TO LEARN

WHY COMMERCIAL AVIATION'S
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

WENT DOWN IN FLAMES.

AT CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT,

THE CONCORDE INVESTIGATION
CATCHES A LUCKY BREAK.

AN INVESTIGATOR
NOTICES SOMETHING ODD

ON AN ENGINE OF A DC-10

THAT FLIES REGULARLY
BETWEEN PARIS AND THE U.S.

BUT HE ONLY SEES THE PLANE FOR
A MOMENT BEFORE IT TAKES OFF.

Macintosh:
HE GOT A QUICK GLIMPSE,

BUT HE HAD ENOUGH
OF A GLIMPSE TO SAY,

"I THINK THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG THERE,

AND I SEE AN ANOMALY

THAT TELLS ME MAYBE
THAT STRIP CAME FROM THERE."

Narrator: FLIGHT RECORDS REVEAL

THAT VERY DC-10 TOOK OFF
FROM RUNWAY 26-RIGHT

JUST MINUTES BEFORE
THE DOOMED CONCORDE.

COULD IT BE THE PLANE
THEY'RE HUNTING FOR?

Bouillard: YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT QUITE THE REAL THING,

BUT IT IS THE BEST WE'VE GOT.

Macintosh: WE DIDN'T HAVE
THE METAL STRIP.

IT WAS STILL IN THE POSSESSION
OF THE FRENCH GENDARMES.

Narrator:
BOUILLARD GIVES MACINTOSH

A MOCKUP
OF THE ENGINE WEAR STRIP,

HOPING IT WILL HELP DETERMINE

WHETHER IT FELL
FROM THE SUSPECT DC-10.

Macintosh: WE WERE ALL
GLUED TO THE PHONE

AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN
WE COULD LOOK AT THE AIRCRAFT,

BECAUSE BY THIS TIME

THAT PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT
HAD LEFT CHARLES DE GAULLE

AND WAS FLYING AROUND
IN NORTH AMERICA.

Narrator: MACINTOSH SOON TRACKS
THE DC-10 TO HOUSTON.

HE'LL NEED TO
CATCH UP WITH IT THERE

TO GET A CLOSE LOOK
AT THE ENGINE.

Macintosh: IT REALLY BECAME
A CHALLENGE TO ME

TO FIND THIS AIRCRAFT

AND TO FIND THE SPECIFIC POINT
WHERE THIS STRIP HAD COME FROM.

Narrator:
IF MACINTOSH CAN'T TRACK DOWN

THE ORIGIN OF THE METAL STRIP,

THE FULL STORY OF THE CONCORDE
DISASTER MAY NEVER BE KNOWN.

IN PARIS, ALAIN BOUILLARD
FINALLY HAS A WORKING THEORY

THAT MAY EXPLAIN ONE OF THE MOST
SHOCKING AVIATION DISASTERS

THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

Bouillard: THIS WILL DO.

LET'S SEE IF IT CAN
SLICE OPEN THE TIRE.

Narrator: INCREDIBLY,

IT ALL COMES DOWN
TO A THIN STRIP OF METAL

THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN
FROM A DC-10

ONTO RUNWAY 26-RIGHT...

Marcot: V-1.

Narrator: WHERE IT RUPTURED
A MASSIVE CONCORDE TIRE...

Marcot: WATCH OUT!

Jardinaud: STOP!

Narrator: THAT FATALLY
BURST A FUEL TANK.

IT'S TIME TO TEST THAT THEORY.

Torres:
THE FIRST THING WE HAD TO DO

WAS REPRODUCE A TIRE RUPTURE

TO TRY TO EXPLAIN THE SIZE
OF THE FRAGMENTS WE FOUND

AND TO SEE IF IT WAS POSSIBLE
FOR THIS METAL STRIP

TO CAUSE THE TYPE OF DAMAGE
WE SAW IN THE DEBRIS.

Narrator: THEY CREATE
AN EXACT REPLICA

OF THE METAL STRIP
THAT WAS FOUND ON THE RUNWAY

AND PLACE IT UNDER
A BRAND-NEW CONCORDE TIRE.

A TWO-WHEEL TRAILER
IS STACKED WITH HEAVY BLOCKS

TO RECREATE THE LOAD
ON CONCORDE'S TIRES--

25 TONS.

THEY NEED TO KNOW IF DRIVING
OVER THE NARROW STRIP OF METAL

IS ENOUGH TO RIP OPEN
A RUGGED CONCORDE TIRE.

IN A DRAMATIC FASHION...

THEY GET THEIR ANSWER.

Torres: AMAZING. YOU CAN'T ASK
FOR BETTER PROOF THAN THAT.

THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

C'ETAIT PARFAIT.

Bouillard: THIS PLANE
IS TOUGH ON TIRES,

AND, IT SEEMS, FUEL TANKS.

Narrator: BOUILLARD IS CONVINCED
HE'S CRACKED THE CASE.

HOPING TO CONFIRM HIS THEORY,

INVESTIGATORS
STUDY THE FRAGMENTS

OF THE CONCORDE'S FUEL TANK.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

IF A PIECE OF FLYING DEBRIS
RUPTURED THE TANK,

THE TANK SHOULD BE BENT
FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.

BUT THE TANK FRAGMENT
FROM THE RUNWAY

IS BENT IN THE OPPOSITE WAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE BOUILLARD'S THEORY
IS FALLING APART.

Bouillard: I DON'T GET IT.

I JUST DON'T GET IT.

IF THE TIRE
DIDN'T RUPTURE THE FUEL TANK,

THEN WHAT DID?

Narrator:
THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION

IS BACK AT SQUARE ONE.

Bouillard:
WE HAD ALL THESE ELEMENTS,

BUT WE HAD TROUBLE
MAKING THE CONNECTION

BETWEEN THE TIRE FRAGMENTS,
THE STRIP OF METAL,

AND THE PIECES OF THE FUEL TANK.

ALL THESE REMAINED
ISOLATED ELEMENTS,

AND WE COULDN'T FIND A WAY
TO LINK THEM TOGETHER.

WHAT ARE WE MISSING?

I HAVE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

Macintosh: THE ACTION
THAT WOULD MAKE

THIS PIECE OF FUEL TANK
ESCAPE WAS UNIQUE.

Narrator: BOUILLARD IS FACING
AN UNPRECEDENTED MYSTERY.

WHAT PUNCTURED THE CONCORDE'S
FUEL TANK FROM THE INSIDE?

IF HE FAILS
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY,

THE LOSS OF 113 LIVES
MAY NEVER BE EXPLAINED.

THE BAFFLING EVIDENCE

FROM THE CONCORDE'S
RUPTURED FUEL TANK

REMAINS A PUZZLING DILEMMA--

ONE THAT THREATENS TO DERAIL
THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION.

Bouillard:
PRETTY HEAVY LOAD OF FUEL.

Narrator:
ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH,

ALL 12 FUEL TANKS INSIDE
CONCORDE'S ENORMOUS DELTA WING

HAD BEEN COMPLETELY FILLED.

Torres: FOR ROUTES
LIKE PARIS TO NEW YORK,

THE CONCORDE'S FUEL TANKS

NEEDED TO BE FILLED
TO THEIR MAXIMUM CAPACITY.

WITHOUT FULL TANKS,

IT WOULDN'T HAVE THE RESERVES
NEEDED TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC.

Bouillard: THE ONLY THING
IN THE FUEL TANK IS THE FUEL.

MAYBE WHAT BURST THE TANK
IS THE FUEL ITSELF.

Narrator: THE HEAVY FUEL LOAD

SUGGESTS
AN UNCONVENTIONAL THEORY.

WHEN A HIGH-SPEED PROJECTILE
HITS A CONTAINER FULL OF LIQUID,

IT CAN SET OFF
A TSUNAMI-LIKE WAVE

POWERFUL ENOUGH
TO RUPTURE THE CONTAINER

AT A DIFFERENT POINT
FROM WHERE IT WAS STRUCK.

Torres:
THE LIQUID WILL MOVE AROUND

AND PUSH EVENLY
ON EVERY PART OF THE TANK.

AND IT'S THE WEAKEST
PART OF THE TANK

THAT WILL TEND TO RUPTURE.

Bouillard: SET IT SO THE FUEL
TANKS ARE COMPLETELY FULL.

Narrator: HE HOPES
A COMPUTER SIMULATION

WILL SHOW IF THAT'S
WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

Bouillard: AND THE PIECE OF TIRE
IS FIVE KILOGRAMS.

THE SCENARIO THAT WE HAD IN MIND

WAS ONLY POSSIBLE
IF THE TANKS WERE FULL.

OK. LET'S WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

Narrator: BOUILLARD KNOWS
HIS THEORY MAY MEET RESISTANCE.

THERE'S NO RECORD
OF AN AIRCRAFT FUEL TANK

EVER RUPTURING THIS WAY BEFORE.

Bouillard: FIRE.

Narrator: THE SIMULATION
RECREATES THE EFFECT

OF A PIECE OF TIRE
HITTING THE FUEL TANK.

FOR BOUILLARD,
IT'S THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

Bouillard: LET'S TRY IT AGAIN.

ONLY THIS TIME,
AIM OVER TO THE LEFT.

MAYBE WE'LL FIND A WEAK SPOT.

Narrator: CONDITIONS
HAVE TO BE JUST RIGHT.

Bouillard: FIRE.

Narrator: BUT WHEN THEY ARE...

Bouillard: WE'VE GOT IT.

WELL DONE.

Narrator: FIRING A PIECE
OF TIRE AT THE TANK

CAN MAKE IT BURST
FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

Bouillard: WE WERE CONVINCED
THIS WAS WHAT HAPPENED.

Macintosh: IT WAS
A REVELATION TO ALL OF US

AND INDEED
A VERY PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION

AS TO HOW THE MAJOR
FUEL LIBERATION TOOK PLACE.

Narrator: FINDING THE SOURCE
OF THE DEADLY METAL STRIP

IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER.

IN HOUSTON, BOB MACINTOSH
PREPARES TO INSPECT THE DC-10

THAT TOOK OFF FIVE MINUTES
BEFORE CONCORDE.

Macintosh: WE WERE MET
BY THE SAFETY MANAGER

OF CONTINENTAL AIRLINES.

WE ALL REALIZED THAT WE HAD
A PRETTY SERIOUS DUTY HERE

AND THERE MIGHT BE
SOME REAL REPERCUSSIONS

COMING FROM THIS,
WHAT WE WERE ABOUT TO DO.

Narrator:
MACINTOSH IMMEDIATELY SPOTS

SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

THERE'S AN ODD GAP

IN THE WEAR STRIPS
ON THE DC-10'S ENGINE.

Macintosh: GET ME A CLOSER LOOK
AT THAT, WILL YA?

WE HAD THE MECHANICS
OPEN UP THE COWLING

AND EXPOSE THE AREA
WHERE THE STRIP WAS MISSING.

Narrator:
THE GAP SEEMS TO HAVE TRACES

OF THE SAME REDDISH-ORANGE GLUE

THAT WAS ON THE METAL PIECE
FROM FRANCE,

BUT MACINTOSH NEEDS TO BE SURE.

Macintosh:
IT OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T FIT RIGHT,

AND THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT
TO MAKE IT FIT BETTER

BY USING THIS MASTIC
OR GLUE MATERIAL.

LET'S SEE IF THE LAB
CAN MATCH THAT.

Narrator:
THERE ALSO SEEMED TO BE

SOME EXTRA RIVET HOLES
ON THE ENGINE.

HE CHECKS CAREFULLY TO SEE
IF THEY MATCH THE ONES

PUNCHED INTO THE STRIP
FOUND ON THE PARIS RUNWAY.

Macintosh: WE HAVE A WINNER.

Narrator: IT'S A PERFECT MATCH.

Macintosh:
WE FOUND THE CULPRIT.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN OUR MINDS

THAT THE STRIP
HAD COME FROM THIS AIRCRAFT.

SO THERE WERE SOME DIFFERENT
EMOTIONS THERE AT THAT MOMENT.

Narrator:
MACINTOSH NEEDS TO KNOW

HOW AN ENGINE PART COULD HAVE
FALLEN OFF A PLANE

FROM A MAJOR U.S. AIRLINE,

CAUSING A FATAL TRAGEDY.

HE COMBS THROUGH THE DC-10'S
MAINTENANCE RECORDS

AND LEARNS
THE WEAR STRIP WAS REPLACED

JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS
BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

THE HOLES DRILLED INTO THE STRIP
DIDN'T LINE UP PROPERLY

WITH THE HOLES
ON THE ENGINE COWLING.

SO THE MECHANIC
DRILLED NEW ONES.

THEN, HE ADDED SOME ADHESIVE
TO FIX IT IN PLACE.

LAB TESTS CONFIRM
THE ADHESIVE USED ON THE DC-10

IS IDENTICAL TO THAT
FOUND ON THE DEBRIS

FROM THE RUNWAY
AT CHARLES DE GAULLE.

Macintosh: THERE WAS NO INTENT
TO VIOLATE A REGULATION.

IT WAS JUST THE JOB WASN'T DONE
TO A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL

THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT

FROM A FIRST LINE AIRLINE
IN PARTICULAR.

Narrator: THE PIECE STAYED
IN PLACE FOR JUST 16 DAYS

BEFORE DROPPING
ONTO THE PARIS RUNWAY,

FIVE MINUTES BEFORE
CONCORDE TOOK OFF.

BOUILLARD
HAS ONE FINAL QUESTION.

Marty: NO TIME!

Narrator: WHY DIDN'T THE PILOTS
ABORT THE TAKEOFF

AND SAVE THE LIVES
OF EVERYONE ON BOARD?

Marty: NO!

Narrator: TECHNICIANS HAVE
MANAGED TO PIECE TOGETHER

THE DATA FROM THE BURNT
AND DAMAGED FLIGHT RECORDER.

Marty: EVERYBODY READY?

Marcot: YES.

Bouillard: ENGINES ARE FINE.

SPEED INCREASING.

Narrator: TOGETHER WITH
THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER,

IT PAINTS A VIVID PICTURE

OF A SUDDEN EMERGENCY
THAT ESCALATES RAPIDLY.

Jardinaud: FOUR GREEN.

Narrator: THE PLANE
IS ROCKETING DOWN

THE 2.5-MILE RUNWAY

AT NEARLY 200 MILES AN HOUR.

Marcot: WATCH OUT!

Narrator: WHEN THE FUEL IGNITES,

THE MASSIVE JET
NEEDS MORE THAN A MILE TO STOP.

BUT THERE'S ONLY
A THOUSAND YARDS OF RUNWAY LEFT.

THE PILOTS MUST PUT
THE BURNING PLANE IN THE AIR.

Bouillard: ABORTING
THE TAKEOFF AT 180 KNOTS

WOULD ALSO HAVE LED TO THE TOTAL
DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: TWO OF CONCORDE'S
FOUR ENGINES ARE ON FIRE.

Bouillard: THEY LOST
ENGINE ONE AND TWO

AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME.

THE CREW FOUND THEMSELVES

CONFRONTED WITH A PLANE
THAT HAD LOST HALF ITS THRUST.

Narrator:
WITH ONLY TWO ENGINES WORKING,

THE PLANE WON'T CLIMB.

Marcot: WATCH THE AIRSPEED.

THE AIRSPEED!
THE AIRSPEED!

Chatelain: HE'S TOTALLY
SURPRISED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING.

ALL THIS HAPPENED IN SOMETHING
LIKE THREE SECONDS OF TIME,

WHICH IS REALLY A SHORT TIME.

Bouillard: WE ALL KNOW
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEED

FOR DELTA WING PLANES,

AND SO THE AIRCRAFT FOUND ITSELF
IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.

Marty: GEAR UP!

Narrator: THE CREW TRIES
TO RAISE THE LANDING GEAR

TO REDUCE DRAG.

Jardinaud: THE GEAR, JEAN!

Marcot: I'M TRYING!

Narrator: DUE TO THE DAMAGE,
THE GEAR WON'T RETRACT.

Torres: WHEN THE TIRE BURST,

IT DAMAGED THE SENSORS
ON THE LANDING GEAR DOORS.

WITH THOSE DOORS
IN THE WRONG POSITION,

THE GEAR COULD NOT RETRACT.

Narrator: THE DATA SHOWS
THE CREW FOUGHT HARD

TO KEEP THE PLANE FLYING
RIGHT UP TO THE VERY END.

Marcot: LE BOURGET.
LE BOURGET!

Narrator: BUT THE FIRE
IS CONSUMING THEIR WING.

Chatelain: AT ONE POINT, THEY
KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO DIE.

NO PANIC AT ALL TO THE VERY END.

TO THE VERY END THEY TRIED
TO FIND A SOLUTION.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ESTIMATE
THE RAGING INFERNO BURNED

AT MORE THAN 2,000 DEGREES--

HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE WING.

Marty: NO TIME!

NO!

NO!

Bouillard: THERE WAS
NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

WE WERE CONVINCED

THAT FROM THE MOMENT THE PLANE
ROLLED OVER THE METAL STRIP,

A CATASTROPHE WAS INEVITABLE.

Narrator: THE ACCIDENT REPORT

MAKES A NUMBER
OF RECOMMENDATIONS

TO MAKE CONCORDE SAFER.

ENGINEERS DESIGN STRONGER TIRES

THAT CAN BETTER WITHSTAND
THE PLANE'S HIGH SPEED

AND IMMENSE WEIGHT.

FUEL TANKS ARE REINFORCED
WITH KEVLAR TO PREVENT LEAKS.

AIRPORT AUTHORITIES
ALSO IMPLEMENT A BETTER SYSTEM

FOR MONITORING RUNWAYS
AND REMOVING DEBRIS.

Chatelain: WHAT IS PUZZLING

IS THAT YOU HAD A 200-GRAMS
PIECE OF METAL ON THE RUNWAY.

IT TURNS OUT TO TRIGGER ONE OF
THE MOST CATASTROPHIC CRASHES

IN AVIATION HISTORY.

Narrator: A YEAR AFTER THE CRASH
THAT TOOK 113 LIVES,

AN OFFICIAL
MEMORIAL SERVICE IS HELD.

Logelin: I WAS WITH THEM,

SO IN A WAY I'M KIND OF
LINKED WITH THIS CRASH.

IT WILL REMAIN
THE EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE.

I WOULD HAVE GIVEN EVERYTHING
NOT TO BE THERE THIS DAY,

BUT I AM THE ONE.

Narrator: 15 MONTHS
AFTER THE CRASH,

THE CONCORDE FLEET
IS FINALLY BACK IN THE AIR.

SOON AFTER, ALAIN BOUILLARD
SEIZES AN OPPORTUNITY

TO TAKE A FLIGHT
IN THE AIRCRAFT HE HELPED SAVE.

Bouillard:
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY

TO FLY AS A PASSENGER
ON THE CONCORDE.

I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THE COLOR
OF THE SKY AT 60,000 FEET

AND THE SENSATION
OF ACCELERATION AND SPEED.

THESE ARE SENSATIONS
THAT ARE VERY PARTICULAR,

UNIQUE,

THAT I HAVEN'T FELT SINCE
AND THAT I MAY NEVER FEEL AGAIN.

Narrator:
THE RETURN OF THE WORLD'S

ONLY SUPERSONIC PLANE

DOESN'T LAST LONG.

TWO YEARS LATER, WITH RISING
FUEL COSTS AND FALLING PROFITS,

AIR FRANCE AND BRITISH AIRWAYS

DECIDE TO RETIRE
CONCORDE FOREVER.

IT MAKES ITS LAST FLIGHT
ON NOVEMBER 26, 2003.

Chatelain: FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN AVIATION HISTORY,

IT WAS KIND OF A STEP BACK.

I MEAN, WE HAD
SUPERSONIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE NOT THAT ANYMORE.

Macintosh: IT WAS A SAD DAY

WHEN WE SAW THE RETIREMENT
OF THE AIRCRAFT.

ON THE OTHER HAND,

RECOGNIZING THAT IT WAS
1965 TECHNOLOGY,

IT PROBABLY WAS TIME
TO RETIRE THE AIRCRAFT

AND GO ON TO OTHER
MORE MODERN THINGS.