Air France Flight 296 was a chartered flight of a new fly-by-wire Airbus A320-111 operated by Air France. On June 26, 1988, it was flying over Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport (ICAO code LFGB) as part of an air show. The low-speed fly-by was supposed to take place with landing gear down at an altitude of 100 feet (30 m) AGL (above ground level); instead, the plane slowly descended to 30 feet, and crashed into treetops at the end of the runway, killing three passengers. Since the flight was also a demonstration flight of the Airbus plane, this was the first crash of the A320 aircraft. The cause of the accident is disputed, as many irregularities were revealed by the accident investigation.
Read more about Air France Flight 296: Official Report, Outcome, Dramatization
Famous quotes containing the words air, france and/or flight:
“The air was clear. He seemed in ultimate peace
Except that he had no eyes. Rigid and bright
Upon the forehead, furred
With a light frost, crouched an outrageous bird.”
—Anthony Hecht (b. 1923)
“If my theory of relativity is proven correct, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.”
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955)
“Its shrill scream seems yet to linger in its throat, and the roar of the sea in its wings. There is the tyranny of Jove in its claws, and his wrath in the erectile feathers of the head and neck. It reminds me of the Argonautic expedition, and would inspire the dullest to take flight over Parnassus.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)