THIS was the horrific moment an Air France plane carrying 136 passengers crashed in front of a screaming crowd.
Shocking footage showed the Airbus A320’s first flight – flying low over the runway before plowing over trees and crashing in a ball of fire.
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It has been exactly 36 years since the disaster that marked a dark chapter in the history of aviation.
On June 26, 1988, crowds gathered at Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport in France for the arrival of Air France Flight 296Q – with the state-of-the-art Airbus A320-111.
The innovative aircraft was the first commercial plane equipped with a fly-by-wire control system – which promised greater safety and efficiency.
The plan was to perform a 100-foot low-altitude flyby to showcase the plane’s advanced systems.
Habsheim airport had a single runway of just 1,120 m – meaning the plane came from somewhere else.
The Air France flight took off from Paris CDG airport before landing at Basel/Mulhouse airport, where a press conference was held before passengers boarded.
Crowds were in awe as the plane took off – carrying mostly journalists and sweepstakes winners aboard the inaugural flight.
It was piloted by Captain Michel Asseline, an experienced pilot with over 10,000 flight hours, and his first officer, Pierre Mazières.
The pair looked confident after training for countless hours on the new aircraft.
But as the plane approached the runway, it descended lower than intended.
Instead of leveling off at 100 feet, the Airbus descended to a dangerous 30 feet.
The engines were idling – contributing to the plane’s rapid and continuous descent.
Captain Asseline tried to increase thrust and pull the aircraft upward – but it was too late.
The plane skimmed the treetops at the end of the runway, its landing gear and wings tearing through the forest canopy.
Within moments, the aircraft crashed into the forest and exploded in a colossal fireball.
Miraculously, all 136 passengers survived the initial impact, but three later died from smoke inhalation from the fire.
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An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the tragedy.
The probe examined the aircraft’s systems, the pilot’s actions and possible communication failures.
It was found that the combination of low altitude, idling engine thrust, and delayed response to increase power contributed to the disaster.
The pilots’ confidence in the new technology, and perhaps an overconfidence in their abilities, also played a role in the tragic outcome, investigators found.
Five people were then found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Captain Asseline stated that he and Mazières had busy weekends and only received the flight plan the morning of the flight.
They claimed that they were also not provided with any map of the airfield or details of the airfield layout.
Asseline denied exiting the go-around too late, claiming that the aircraft’s fly-by-wire computer prohibited him from applying thrust and pulling up.
He also claimed that the plane’s black box had been tampered with, missing four seconds.
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Asseline, the first officer, two Air France employees and the president of the flying club were convicted of manslaughter.
Captain Asseline was the only one found guilty and sentenced to prison.
He appealed, but lost and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, followed by ten months of probation.
The investigation included several recommendations – such as banning all passengers from demonstration flights and providing crews with maps and an accurate survey of airfields.
The disaster became a hot topic for documentaries, such as the Canadian series Mayday.
The popular program covered Flight 296Q, featuring a detailed reconstruction and analysis of the event, including interviews with experts and investigators.
CONSPIRACY THEORIES
Some conspiracy theories claim that the tragedy was not an accident, but an act of sabotage or even an intentional accident to discredit Airbus or the A320 program.
Proponents of this theory point to the rapid rise of Airbus as a competitor to Boeing.
They speculated that foul play could have been involved to undermine the credibility of the new aircraft.
But there was no substantial evidence to support these claims.
Another theory suggested that there was a cover-up by Airbus or Air France to hide the true cause of the accident.
Some believed that critical evidence was withheld or manipulated to protect the reputation of the A320 and its fly-by-wire technology.
This included allegations that the flight data recorder – also known as the black box – had been tampered with.
Investigations showed some inconsistencies, but authorities maintained that these were due to technical problems rather than intentional tampering.
There were also theories focused on possible technical problems with the A320 systems.
Some speculated that there was a problem with the aircraft’s altitude readings or engine control systems.
The investigation considered these possibilities, but ultimately concluded that the systems were functioning as designed and that the main problem was the low altitude and delay in applying thrust.
Another theory suggested a potential miscommunication between the flight crew and ground control or within the cabin itself.
Some believe there may have been a misunderstanding about the flight profile or a misinterpretation of instructions, leading to the dangerously low fare.
The theory highlighted the importance of clear communication and proper instructions for demonstration flights.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
