Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago

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The cause of the crash of Air France flight 447 was a mystery for almost two years, hampering the air crash investigation. When the flight deck recorders were finally recovered, they revealed a harrowing final few minutes of the flight and bought into question crew proficiency in the days of highly automated aircraft.

This is the story of Air France 447, when pilots panic.






Attributions:

Air France A330 at Dubai - Konstantin von Wedelstaedt
Konstantin von Wedelstaedt (GFDL 1.2 gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html or GFDL 1.2 gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html), via Wikimedia Commons

Pitot Tubes up close
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JMSDF_P-1(5504)_HAQ-2_EO_IR_sensor_right_front_low-angle_view_at_Kanoya_Air_Base_April_30,_2017_01.jpg
Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brazilian Crash Investigator
Roosewelt Pinheiro/ABr, CC BY 3.0 BR creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/br/deed.en, via Wikimedia Commons

Air France Vertical Stabalizer in ocean
flickr.com/photos/27048731@N03/3607233513

Ocean Floor Engine picture
Photograph: Bureau d'Enquetes et Analyses /EPA

Airbus HeadQaurters - Vahurzpu
Vahurzpu, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Flight Deck recorders - Johann Peschel/Reuters

Sea wreckage - AP