One has to understand that the French system is different from others.
I remember a lecture by someone from the AAIB in Farnborough explaining the Concorde Case.
British investigators were forbidden access to clues during the investigation because it had to go through a criminal case or so. While the BEA (Bureau Enquête Accident/analyse) investigates on the technical (aeronautical) aspect, another investigation is carried out by the judiciary (with the possibility to use the police to keep clues under surveillance and control).
This might be what's happening right now with the Airbus Crash.
Last edited by stadedelafougere; 27th Dec 2008 at 20:06.