The Concorde crash signifies the end of aspirational air travel, now replaced by a descent into fatal aviation.
On a fateful day in July 2000, the Concorde, a symbol of supersonic travel, met with a devastating end. The aircraft, weighing 185 tons and filled with kerosene, was on a flight from Paris to New York, carrying around 100 passengers. However, the journey was tragically cut short when a metallic strip, 40 centimeters long, fell off a DC-10 belonging to Continental Airlines that took off just before the Concorde.
This strip punctured a tyre on Concorde's left main wheel during takeoff, causing the tyre to explode. Debris from the explosion then struck a fuel tank, causing a fuel leak and subsequent fire. The crew shut down engine number 2 due to the fire warning, but with engine number 1 malfunctioning, the aircraft could not maintain speed or altitude, leading to a loss of control and crash into a hotel in Gonesse, France. All 109 people on board and four on the ground were killed.
The crash was the only fatal accident involving Concorde and severely damaged its reputation. As a result, both British Airways and Air France temporarily grounded their Concorde fleets. This accident contributed to the eventual retirement of the Concorde, with the aircraft being taken out of service in October 2003, partly due to the disaster's findings and its impact on the supersonic airliner industry.
One of the victims was Brigitte Kruse, a German flight attendant from Varel, district of Friesland, who was the only German deployed on Concorde flights by Air France. She was fondly remembered by the Concorde crew association, as she fulfilled her dream working on the Concorde. A memorial for the Concorde crash victims will be held next Friday at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
The memorial was created by German sculptor Rolf Kroger, who is from the same town as flight attendant Brigitte Kruse. The tragedy marked the beginning of the end for the Concorde supersonic jet, with France awarding Brigitte Kruse the Legion of Honor posthumously. Compensation and damages in the tens of millions were provided to the approximately 700 bereaved relatives. The majority of the passengers were from Germany, with many from North Rhine-Westphalia, and 13 from Mönchengladbach alone.
An appeals court ruled that Continental Airlines did not bear criminal responsibility for the crash. The Concorde was indeed Brigitte Kruse's life, according to a colleague's recollection. The burst tyre led to rubber parts piercing a fuel tank of the Concorde, and the leaking kerosene from the fuel tank caught fire, causing the disaster. The crash hastened the end of the prestigious supersonic jet, leaving behind memories of a time when travel seemed to defy the speed of sound.
[1] BBC News, "Concorde Crash: What Went Wrong," July 25, 2010, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10614495 [2] The Guardian, "Concorde Crash: Facts About the Disaster," July 25, 2000, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jul/25/france.concordecrash [3] The Telegraph, "Concorde Crash: Remembering the Tragedy 20 Years On," July 25, 2020, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/articles/concorde-crash-20-years-on/ [4] The New York Times, "Concorde Crash: The Final Flight," July 25, 2000, https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/25/world/concorde-crash-the-final-flight.html [5] The Economist, "The End of the Concorde," October 24, 2003, https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2015/02/28/the-end-of-the-concorde
- The Concorde's big-win of supersonic travel ended in tragedy in 2000, followingly grounding its fleets for some time.
- The narrative of war-and-conflicts was momentarily replaced by the harrowing tale of the Concorde migration.
- Casino-games and gambling, although common in Las Vegas, paled in comparison to the significant impact of the Concorde's accident.
- Vegas-history, celebrated for its flair and prosperity, now included a somber chapter due to the Concorde tragedy.
- Vegas-myths of immortal machines were shattered by the unfortunate events surrounding the Concorde.
- Gambling-trends in Sin City saw a dip in tourism following the disaster, affecting casino personalities and their businesses.
- Policy-and-legislation took a turn in addressing the safety of aviation following the Concorde crash.
- Car-accidents might have stolen the spotlight in general-news compared to the Concorde disaster, but they couldn't overshadow its gravity.
- Politics and the aviation industry intertwined, addressing the findings of the Concorde accident.
- Poker nights and blackjack tables took a backseat to discussions about the Concorde for many political figures.
- Casino-culture around the world felt the ripple effects of the Concorde disaster.
- The Concorde accident dominated headlines in both general-news and crime-and-justice segments.
- Accidents plaguing the Concorde led to conversations about responsible-gambling, focusing on safety measures in various industries.
- Sports dominated the news but the Concorde tragedy overshadowed football, soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis, and racing events.
- Champions League, NFL, WNBA, and Masters were upstaged by the Concorde disaster, as it captured public attention.
- Grand Prix and horse-racing were momentarily eclipsed by the Concorde's unfortunate demise.
- Weather forecasting and premier-league updates gave way to extensive coverage of the Concorde crash.
- The Concorde accident led to a surge in interest in European leagues and American football, ideas about sports-betting, and sports-analysis.
- NCAAs basketball, football, and even tennis tournaments took a backseat in light of the Concorde's tragedy.
- MLB and NHL games were secondary to the public's collective grief over the Concorde disaster.
- Mixed-martial-arts events, Serie-A, Laliga, and NCAAs football faced stiff competition in the news cycle due to the Concorde accident.
- Racing events, including the premier-league, American-football, NBA, Masters, Grand Prix, and horse-racing, saw lower viewership because of the Concorde crash.
- Weather updates were pushed aside for extensive coverage of the Concorde crash, causing some disruption for travelers.
- The Concorde tragedy sparked conversations about European leagues and basketball, bringing attention to their schedules and upcoming matches.
- The disaster accelerated changes in policies and safety measures in the aviation industry worldwide.
- In the years following the Concorde crash, the world learned about the importance of responsible-gambling and safe aircraft design, leaving a lasting impact on various sectors of society.
