THIS was the horror moment an Air France plane carrying 136 passengers crashed in front of screaming crowds.
Shocking footage showed the first flight of an Airbus A320 – flying low over the runway before skimming over trees and crashing in a fireball.
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Air France Flight 296Q was carrying 136 passengers when it crashed at a failed air show
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The plane flew too low and hit trees at Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport
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He then collapsed in a ball of fire in front of the spectators
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Path of A320 after it crashed into the forest Credits: Medium
Exactly 36 years have passed since the disaster that marked a dark chapter in aviation history.
On June 26, 1988, crowds gathered at Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport in France for the arrival of Air France Flight 296Q – a state-of-the-art Airbus A320-111.
The revolutionary aircraft was the first commercial aircraft equipped with a fly-by-wire control system – promising greater safety and efficiency.
The plan was to perform a 100-foot low-altitude flight to demonstrate the plane’s advanced systems.
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Habsheim’s airport had one runway of only 1120 m – which means that the plane flew in from the other side.
The Air France flight took off from Paris CDG airport before landing at Basel/Mulhouse airport where a press conference was held before passengers boarded.
The crowd was in awe as the plane took off – carrying mostly journalists and raffle winners on the inaugural flight.
It was piloted by Captain Michel Asseline, an experienced pilot with more than 10,000 flight hours, and his first officer, Pierre Mazières.
The pair appeared confident after countless hours of training in the new aircraft.
But as the plane approached the runway, it descended lower than intended.
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Instead of leveling off at 100 feet, the Airbus descended to a dangerous 30 feet.
The engines were idling – which contributed to the rapid continuous descent of the plane.
Captain Asseline tried to increase thrust and pull the craft – but it was too late.
The aircraft flew over the treetops at the end of the runway, with the undercarriage and wings penetrating the forest canopy.
Within moments, the craft crashed into the forest and erupted into a colossal fireball.
Miraculously, all 136 passengers survived the first impact, but three later died of smoke inhalation from the fire.
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A cloud of black smoke fills the air as an Airbus A-320 hits the ground Credit: Getty
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Air France Flight 269Q began its journey at Paris CDG Airport Credit: Aviation Accident Office Archives
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The plane caught fire after crashing into dozens of trees Credits: Tail Strike
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The terrible consequences of the disaster that occurred on June 26, 1988. Credit: EPA
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the tragedy.
The probe examined the aircraft’s systems, pilot actions and possible miscommunications.
A combination of low altitude, engine idle thrust and a delayed boost response were found to have contributed to the disaster.
The pilot’s reliance on new technology, and perhaps overconfidence in its abilities, also played a role in the tragic outcome, investigators found.
Five people were then found guilty of manslaughter.
Captain Asseline claimed that he and Mazières had busy weekends and did not receive the flight plan until the morning of the flight.
They claimed that they also did not get any airport maps or airport layout details.
Asseline denied that he left too late, claiming that the spacecraft’s fly-by-wire computer had prohibited him from applying thrust and pulling.
He also claimed that the plane’s black box had been tampered with, causing the four seconds to be missing.
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Former Air France pilots Pierre Mazieres (L) and Michel Asseline (R) seen in court, November 22, before the start of their month-long trial
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They claimed that they had not received any airport maps or details of the airport scheduleCredit: Getty
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Two black boxes recovered from the wreckage of an Airbus A320Credit: EPA
Asseline, the first officer, two Air France staff members and the president of the flying club were convicted of manslaughter.
Captain Asseline was the only one found guilty and sentenced to prison.
He appealed, but lost, and was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by ten months of probation.
The investigation included several recommendations – such as banning all passengers from demonstration flights and giving tickets to the flight crew and an accurate inspection of the airport.
The disaster has become a hot topic for documentaries, such as the Canadian series Mayday.
The popular show followed Flight 296Q, with a detailed reconstruction and analysis of the event, including interviews with experts and investigators.
CONSPIRACY THEORIES
Some conspiracy theories claim that the tragedy was not an accident, but an act of sabotage or even a deliberate crash to discredit Airbus or the A320 program.
Proponents of this theory pointed to the rapid rise of Airbus as a competitor to Boeing.
They speculated that a game of rigging may have been involved to undermine the credibility of the new aircraft.
But there was no substantial evidence to support these claims.
Another theory suggested that Airbus or Air France covered up the true cause of the crash.
Some believed that key evidence was withheld or manipulated to protect the reputation of the A320 and its fly-by-wire technology.
These include allegations that the flight data recorder – also known as the black box – was tampered with.
Investigations showed some inconsistencies, but officials said they were the result of technical problems rather than deliberate tampering.
There were also theories that focused on possible technical failures of the A320’s systems.
Some speculated that there was a problem with the aircraft’s altitude reading or its engine management system.
The investigation considered these possibilities, but ultimately concluded that the systems were functioning as designed and that the primary problem was low altitude and delayed thrust application.
Another theory suggests potential miscommunication between the flight crew and ground control or within the cockpit itself.
Some believe that there may have been a misunderstanding of the flight profile or a misinterpretation of the instructions, which led to the dangerously low pass.
The theory emphasized the importance of clear communication and adequate briefing for demonstration flights.
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Source: HIS Education