FRANCE's accident investigation bureau (BEA)confirms that it is working with the US National Transportation Safety Board to "discover why and how" a metal part fell off a Continental Airlines DC-10 just before the Concorde accident in Paris, on 25 July. Continental, however, says it has not been proven that the part came from its aircraft.
The BEA says it cannot comment on reports that the strip was made of titanium as "it is a matter for the judiciary".
The enquiry's original seven working groups have been cut to four, which are covering: work on the wreck; work on the flight and on aircraft performance; studies of previous events and regulations; and "technical research". The work "will go on for several months".
Source: Flight International
