Concorde returns to Paris
Saturday May 5, 10:25 PM
Air France Concorde returns to Paris after tests
PARIS (Reuters) - An Air France Concorde flew back to Paris on Saturday after weeks of tests at a military airbase aimed at returning the supersonic jet to commercial service after last year's crash.
The plane, which underwent trials at Istres base in the south of France, landed at Orly airport south of Paris, a spokeswoman for Air France said.
Officials at the European aerospace group EADS which supervised the tests with new tyres designed by France's Michelin were not immediately available for comment.
An Air France Concorde crashed in flames shortly after take-off from Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport last July, killing all 109 people on board and four on the ground.
Preliminary investigations showed the plane caught fire after debris from a burst tyre caused underwing fuel tanks to rupture.
Authorities subsequently revoked Concorde's right to fly, but both Air France and British Airways have said they hope to put the plane back into commercial service later this year after resolving the technical failings.
Last week a German lawyer representing relatives of victims of the crash said lawyers were close to reaching a deal with Air France on compensation.