French criminal investigation of Concorde

I just read in the news

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe...rde/index.html

that one of the designers of the Concorde is in the process of being
charged with manslaughter in the French court system. This is after
many attempts at leveling criminal charges against folks in Continental
Airlines for the installation of a piece of metal that fell off one of
its planes that is presumed to have been kicked up by the Concorde's
tire and damaging the fuel tank.

My impression is that the French investigations are not along the lines
of NTSB-like bodies whose investigations are largely to prevent future
accidents. My reading is that the French investigation is more of a
vindictive thing, to find somebody and make them be the scapegoat for a
failed beauracracy. Am I overgeneralizing my reading of the news
articles?

Tim.

wrote:

My impression is that the French investigations are not along the lines
of NTSB-like bodies whose investigations are largely to prevent future
accidents. My reading is that the French investigation is more of a
vindictive thing, to find somebody and make them be the scapegoat for a
failed beauracracy. Am I overgeneralizing my reading of the news
articles?

You are confusing the judicial action with an accident investigation. The
French investigating agency is the BEA, which operates like the NTSB. It
does thorough investigations, and like the NTSB does not have the authority
to criminally charge anyone, only investigate, report, and recommend.

It is the prosecutor who is the one laying criminal charges. That could
happen the same way in the US if it was perceived there was criminal
negligence.

James Robinson wrote:

wrote:

My impression is that the French investigations are not along the
lines of NTSB-like bodies whose investigations are largely to prevent
future accidents. My reading is that the French investigation is more
of a vindictive thing, to find somebody and make them be the
scapegoat for a failed beauracracy. Am I overgeneralizing my reading
of the news articles?

You are confusing the judicial action with an accident investigation.
The French investigating agency is the BEA, which operates like the
NTSB. It does thorough investigations, and like the NTSB does not
have the authority to criminally charge anyone, only investigate,
report, and recommend.

It is the prosecutor who is the one laying criminal charges. That
could happen the same way in the US if it was perceived there was
criminal negligence.

I should add that nobody has yet been charged in France, they have just
opened an investigation. As I understand the French judicial system,
the notice of enquiry simply allows the prosecutor to call witnesses and
collect evidence. It is more of a formality than and doesn't
necessarily mean someone will eventually be charged. The enquiry will
likely be dropped in time without formal charges.

Based on the BBC report (not that CNN stuff), the premise of this
investigation is an allegation that Henri Perrier, the chief engineer
who ended up being the top guy in the concorde programme in later years
was fully aware of the weakenesses of the wings and potential for heavy
fuel leaks/fire and didn't do anything about it.