Airbus Near Loss of Control at Paris Explained
An Air France A340-300 nearly crashed while on approach to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on March 13, 2012, because the crew failed to understand the danger cues the aircraft’s flight systems were showing them.
An Air France A340-300 nearly crashed while on approach to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on March 13, 2012, because the crew failed to understand the danger cues the aircraft’s flight systems were showing them.

An Air France A340-300 nearly crashed while on approach to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on March 13 last year because the crew failed to understand the danger cues the aircraft’s flight systems were showing them, according to the French BEA accident investigation agency. The aircraft was already above the recommended altitude for glideslope intercept–with speedbrakes deployed–as it was being vectored for the Runway 8R Cat III ILS at CDG. On low-visibility approaches at CDG, ATC procedures also require aircraft to be slowed to less than 180 knots within 15 miles.