Air France president and chief executive Jean-Cyril Spinetta said it appears the cause of the Air France disaster at Gonesse, close to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, may have been massive engine malfunction and not the micro-cracks announced on Monday.
Speaking from the crash site, an emotional Spinetta said: The Concorde which crashed - flight AF4590 - entered service with Air France in 1979 and had logged 11,900 flying hours.
"It re-entered service in September 1999 after a major airframe and engine overhaul lasting over one year. The service was very intensive and involved engine removal and dismantling key components of the airframe."
Spinetta said the company had known about the cracks since February. They had been monitored by French and British aviation authorities.
Source: Flight Daily News
