Originally Posted by
vapilot2004
The aircraft was overweight and took off downwind, yet the French court has assigned not one ounce of blame with the operator.
If I recall correctly, the all-up weight was just outside the recommended numbers, but was within safe limits. Neither the weight nor the downwind takeoff would have changed the outcome, hence AF's actions were not responsible for the accident.
Also, what is the significance of the missing wheel spacer? Were they located on the same bogey as the unlucky tire that met with the titanium strip?
That's a can of worms, because it's central to an alternative theory doing the rounds on the internet, but neither the BEA or AAIB people concerned seemed to think it had any real significance.