Thanks DW, JC and others.
I understand how eyewitness reports often vary and can be unreliable. The 'caliber' aka technical background of the witnesses however is often used to apportion weight to their words. A policeman or fireman will be given deference to say a carpenter or baker when it comes to matters of crime or fire. On the other hand, the baker would be the best man to ascertain just how high the dough has risen.
So again, I am left to wonder if the Chirac pilot or the alleged airport firemen were called to the witness stand at all and more importantly, were they on Continental's witness list?