Debris May Have Triggered Concorde Crash

Aug. 10 -- Investigators say a stray piece of metal on the runway may have slashed a tire on Air France’s Concorde,triggering a chain of events that caused last month’s crash.

The Accident and Inquiry Office, a branch of the French Transportation Ministry, said today the metal strip, later found aside the runway at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, appears to fit the shape of a cut in one of the tires. “It is probable that this piece [of metal] caused the cut,” the office said in a statement.

Experts are trying to confirm that the piece of metal caused the tire damage, it said.

It’s not yet clear where the 16-inch-long metal strip came from, though investigators have said they do not believe it is a Concorde part.

Chain of Events Described

The agency said the tire burst as the supersonic airliner sped along the runway toward takeoff at nearly 200 mph, throwing up pieces of rubber weighing as much as nine pounds with massive force.

“According to a process which has yet to be determined, one or several fuel tanks on the left wing were very rapidly damaged, causing a major fuel leak and the fire,” the agency said. The Concorde has seven fuel tanks on each wing.

It is the first time the French investigative agency has given a clear scenario of the chain of events that caused the airliner to crash in flames into a hotel in the town of Gonesse minutes after taking off forNew York on July 25.

All 109 people on board and four on the ground were killed.

Air France’s five remaining supersonic Concorde jetliners have been grounded since the crash, though British Airways’ fleet of seven Concordes continue to fly.

French Transport Minister Jean-Claude Gayssot has said the Air France Concordes will not fly again until experts understand exactly what caused the accident.

Investigators, officials with the Transport Ministry and Air France executives are scheduled to meet Friday morning. Officials have hinted they may reach a decision on whether to resume Air France’s Concorde flights and, if so, whether to add new safety procedures.