What happened
On 3 June 1962, an Air France Boeing 707 suffered a catastrophic failure during its departure from Orly Airport. The aircraft was unable to achieve lift and crashed shortly after initiating its takeoff roll. The accident resulted in significant loss of life, with the majority of those on board perishing instantly or succumbing to injuries.
Investigation
The disaster drew immediate attention due to the severity of the outcome. At the time, it stood as the worst single-aircraft aviation disaster globally and marked the deadliest crash involving a Boeing 707. The incident highlighted critical safety concerns regarding aircraft performance and operational procedures during that era.
Findings
Of the 132 individuals on board, only two flight attendants survived the crash. The remaining 130 people, comprising all 122 passengers and eight crew members, were killed. This high fatality rate underscored the lethality of the event and led to increased scrutiny of Boeing 707 operations and airline safety protocols.