Concorde cockpit recording released

Final minutes of Concorde cockpit recording

Final minutes of Concorde cockpit recording

Following is the transcript of the final minutes from the cockpit voice recorder of Concorde flight AF4590, which crashed outside Paris July 25, released Thursday by the French Accident and Inquiry Office and translated from French by The Associated Press.

Flight cleared for takeoff at 4:42.17 p.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" (Gong)

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, gong).

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" (Gong).

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, gong).

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" (two gongs and sound of switch, followed by another switch and sounds likened to objects being moved).

Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion).

Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion).

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.