Transcript: The Concorde's final two minutes

The French Air Accident Investigation Bureau's (BEA) preliminary report included a transcript of a tape recording the last words spoken between Air France's 4590 Concorde pilots, mechanic and controller.

The following is a translation of the transcript.

Flight cleared for takeoff at 4:42.17p.m.

Controller: "Air France 4590, runway 26 right, wind zero 90 knots, authorized takeoff."

Co-pilot: "4590 taking off 26 right" (sound of switch).

Pilot: "Is everyone ready?"

Co-pilot: "Yes."

Mechanic: "Yes."

Pilot: "Up to 100, 150" (followed by unclear words, sound of switch). "Top" (noise similar to engines increasing power).

Unidentified voice on radio channel: "Go on, Christian."

Mechanic: "We have four heated up" (sound of switch).

Co-pilot: "100 knots."

Pilot: "Confirmed."

Mechanic: "Four green."

Co-pilot: "V one" (Low-frequency noise).

Pilot: (unclear)

Co-pilot: "Watch out."

Controller: "Concorde zero ... 4590, you have flames ... (unclear) ... you have flames behind you."

Unidentified voice (simultaneously on radio) "Right" (background noise changes, sound of switch).

Mechanic: "Stop (unclear)."

Co-pilot: "Well received."

Mechanic: "Breakdown, eng, breakdown engine two" (two sounds of switches, followed by fire alarm).

Unidentified voice on radio: "It's burning badly, huh."

Mechanic: "Cut engine two."

Pilot: "Engine fire procedure" (sound of switch, end of ringing). Co-pilot: "Warning, the airspeed indicator, the airspeed indicator, the airspeed indicator" (sound of switch).

Person in control tower: "It's burning badly and I'm not sure it's coming from the engine" (Switch sound similar to fire extinguisher handle being activated).

Pilot: "Gear on the way up."

Controller: "4590, you have strong flames behind you."

Mechanic: "The gear" (alarm, similar to toilet smoke alert).

Controller: "Beginning reception of a Middle Marker."

Co-pilot: "Yes, well received."

Mechanic: "The gear, no."

Controller: "So, at your convenience, you have priority to land."

Mechanic: "Gear."

Co-pilot: "No" (two switch noises).

Pilot: "Gear (unclear), coming up."

Co-pilot: "Well received" (fire alarm, gong, three switch sounds).

Co-pilot: "I'm trying (unclear)."

Mechanic: "I'm hitting."

Pilot: "Are (unclear) you cutting engine two" (end of smoke alarm).

Mechanic: "I've cut it."

Controller: "End reception Middle Marker."

Co-pilot: "The airspeed indicator" (sound of switch, end of ringing).

Co-pilot: "The gear won't come up" (fire alarm rings).

Aircraft instrument: "Whoop whoop pull up" (GPWS alarm).

Aircraft instrument: "Whoop whoop pull up" (GPWS alarm).

Co-pilot: "The airspeed indicator."

Aircraft instrument: "Whoop whoop pull up" (GPWS alarm).

Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader."

Controller: "Fire service leader, uh ... the Concorde, I don't know its intentions, get yourself in position near the south doublet" (sound of switch).

Pilot: (unclear).

Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader authorization to enter 26 right."

Co-pilot: "Le Bourget, Le Bourget, Le Bourget."

Pilot: "Too late (unclear)."

Controller: "Fire service leader, correction, the Concorde is returning to runway zero nine in the opposite direction."

Pilot: "No time, no (unclear)."

Co-pilot: "Negative, we're trying Le Bourget" (four switching sounds).

Co-pilot: "No (unclear)."

Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader, can you give me the situation of the Concorde" (sound of switch, followed by another switch and sounds likened to objects being moved).

Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion).

Last sound noted on transcript at 4:44.30.18 p.m. Recording ends at 4:44.31.16 p.m.

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France Accident and Inquiry Office
France Accident and Inquiry Office
Civil Aviation Authority
Air France
British Airways
UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch

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