Heartbreaking last words of pilot aboard infamous Concorde flight which crashed killed 113 revealed

19 April 2023, 23:54

Flight 4590 crashed into a hotel in France just 77 seconds after taking off - killing 113
Flight 4590 crashed into a hotel in France just 77 seconds after taking off - killing 113. Picture: Alamy

By Chay Quinn

The heartbreaking final words of the pilot aboard a Concorde flight which crashed and killed 113 has been revealed - 23 years after the tragedy.

The July 25, 2000 Air France flight to New York crashed 77 seconds after taking off after it lost power in its engines and collided with a hotel in the small town of Gonesse.

Flight 4590 caught fire and was notified of the flames by air traffic control moments before it lost power and crashed.

Now the transcript between the Paris control tower and the doomed pilot Captain Christian Marty have been revealed in a report released into the tragedy about the supersonic flight.

Shortly after take off, the Paris control tower was heard telling the crew: "Concorde zero... 4590, you have flames. You have flames behind you."

The Concorde's chief navigator was heard saying: "Breakdown eng... Breakdown engine two.

"Cut engine two."

The image of the flight being engulfed is stained into the French consciousness when it comes to Concorde
The image of the flight being engulfed is stained into the French consciousness when it comes to Concorde. Picture: Alamy

Read More: Airbus and Air France acquitted of manslaughter charges over 2009 plane crash

The flight team then apparently decided to make an attempt to gain speed in order to try an emergency landing at Le Bourget airport.

The aircraft reportedly tried to gain speed for an emergency landing before the captain was heard saying his final words.

Marty was heard saying: "Too late... no time."

The co-pilot then said: "Le Bourget, Le Bourget.

Read More: Drunken British pensioner 'to face trial in France' after 'groping air stewardess on flight' - forcing emergency landing

"Negative, we are trying Le Bourget [airport to land]."

The recording ended 16 seconds after this was heard, and the plane then crashed - killing 100 passengers, nine crew, and four people on the ground.

The crash is widely remembered in France for the harrowing photos of Flight 4590 engulfed in flames and the wreckage of the incident.

After the tragedy, Air France withdrew Concorde's from its fleet - with BA following soon after.

The crash was one of the final actions for the supersonic luxury jet - which ceased commercial flights two years later.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake has called on Labour to stand up to the International Criminal Court after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Labour should stand up to the ICC over Netanyahu arrest warrant, top Tory tells LBC's Lewis Goodall

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor (centre) and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin after the personal injury case against him.

Conor McGregor deletes vile rant about woman he raped after civil jury found him liable for 2018 attack

Lauren Laverne has revealed she is cancer-free

Radio presenter Lauren Laverne reveals she's cancer free in major health update

Wales has been hit with severe flooding

Body found in search for man, 75, who went missing while walking his dog near river during Storm Bert

Storm Bert is battering Britain for a second day

Major incident declared as Storm Bert causes 'devastating' floods with homes and cars left underwater

Westminster Bridge has been closed off following the stabbing

Man left fighting for his life after cardiac arrest on Westminster Bridge after stabbing rumours

Zayn Malik has paid tribute to Liam Payne

'Love you bro': Zayn Malik pays tribute to Liam Payne at first show since former bandmate's death

Diane Abbott speaks to Lewis Goodall

'It's literally a life and death question': Diane Abbott calls for more discussion on assisted dying before vote

Storm Bert i battering Britain for a second day

'Danger to life' warning as Storm Bert batters Britain for second day with more than 200 flood alerts in place

Max Verstappen has won his fourth F1 world title

Max Verstappen wins fourth F1 world title after Las Vegas Grand Prix

Keir Starmer has vowed to crack down on the 'bulging benefits bill'

Keir Starmer vows to crack down on 'bulging benefits bill' as he promises 'sweeping changes' to welfare system

Zvi Kogan

Body found in search for missing rabbi in UAE as Israel says he was killed in 'anti-Semitic terror incident'

Storm Bert has begun to make an impact with snow closing roads

Storm Bert to wreak more havoc as more than 200 flood warnings issued across the UK for Sunday

Island nations which are vulnerable to climate change and some African countries have stormed out of COP29 in a row over funding.

Deal struck for $300bn for developing countries at COP29 after talks had looked set to collapse

A number of unidentified drones have been spotted over three airbases in Britain, the United States Air Force (USAF) has confirmed.

Security alert after unidentified drones spotted above three US-run RAF bases

Two-thirds of Brits support the assisted dying bill which are set to be voted on in the House of Commons next week.

'Two-thirds support assisted dying bill' poll claims after Justice Secretary expressed concerns about proposals