The gallant but doomed attempt of the crew to save the burning Air France Concorde was published last night in an official preliminary investigation report into the July 25th crash.
The 76-page report focused on the circumstances of the crash, which began with a burst tyre on the aircraft's landing gear.
Less than two minutes elapsed from the control tower warning the crew that flames were showing and the last words from the aircraft before it went down just outside Paris.
The final words from Capt Christian Marty, as the crew made an unavailing effort to land at nearby Le Bourget airport, were: "Too late . . . no time".
Moments later, the New Yorkbound plane went down in flames with the loss of all 109 people on board. Four people on the ground were also killed.
The BEA report said the crew had no way of knowing about the fire or any means of fighting it. It showed that just after the aircraft took off, the crew received the chilling message from the Paris control tower: "Concorde zero . . . 4590, You have flames. You have flames behind you."
The aircraft tried to gain speed for an emergency landing. But Capt Marty was heard to say: "Too late . . . no time".
Then as the crew desperately tried to steer the burning plane towards the nearby airport at Le Bourget, the last words heard on the tape, from the co-pilot, were: "Negative, we're trying Le Bourget".
The report said that on take-off from runway 26 right at Charles de Gaulle airport, the front right tyre of the left undercarriage became damaged and tyre fragments projected against the fuselage.
The final report is not due out for at least a year.
The BEA transcript, as the ill-fated flight AF4590 was cleared for take-off at 16:42.17, is as follows:
Controller: "Air France 4590, runway 26 right, wind zero 90 knots, authorised takeoff."
Co-pilot: "4590 taking off 26 right" (sound of switch).
Pilot: "Is everyone ready?"
Co-pilot: "Yes."
Mechanic: "Yes."
Pilot: "Up to 100, 150" (followed by unclear words, sound of switch). "Top" (noise similar to engines increasing power).
Unidentified voice on radio channel: "Go on, Christian."
Mechanic: "We have four heated up" (sound of switch).
Co-pilot: "100 knots."
Pilot: "Confirmed."
Mechanic: "Four green."
Co-pilot: "V one" (Low-frequency noise).
Pilot: (unclear)
Co-pilot: "Watch out."
Controller: "Concorde zero ... 4590, you have flames (unclear) you have flames behind you."
Unidentified voice (simultaneously on radio) "Right" (background noise changes, sound of switch).
Mechanic: "Stop (unclear)."
Co-pilot: "Well received."
Mechanic: "Breakdown, eng, breakdown engine two" (two sounds of switches, followed by fire alarm).
Unidentified voice on radio: "It's burning badly, huh" (Gong)
Mechanic: "Cut engine two."
Pilot: "Engine fire procedure" (sound of switch, end of ringing).
Co-pilot: "Warning, the airspeed indicator, the airspeed indicator, the airspeed indicator" (sound of switch, gong).
Person in control tower: "It's burning badly and I'm not sure it's coming from the engine" (Switch sound similar to fire extinguisher handle being activated).
Pilot: "Gear on the way up."
Controller: "4590, you have strong flames behind you."
Mechanic: "The gear" (alarm, similar to toilet smoke alert).
Controller: "Beginning reception of a Middle Marker."
Co-pilot: "Yes, well received."
Mechanic: "The gear, no" (Gong).
Controller: "So, at your convenience, you have priority to land."
Mechanic: "Gear."
Co-pilot: "No" (two switch noises).
Pilot: "Gear (unclear), coming up."
Co-pilot: "Well received" (fire alarm, gong, three switch sounds).
Co-pilot: "I'm trying (unclear)."
Mechanic: "I'm hitting."
Pilot: "Are (unclear) you cutting engine two" (end of smoke alarm).
Mechanic: "I've cut it."
Controller: "End reception Middle Marker."
Co-pilot: "The airspeed indicator" (sound of switch, end of ringing).
Co-pilot: "The gear won't come up" (fire alarm rings).
Aircraft instrument: "Whoop whoop pull up" (GPWS alarm, gong).
Aircraft instrument: "Whoop whoop pull up" (GPWS alarm).
Co-pilot: "The airspeed indicator."
Aircraft instrument: "Whoop whoop pull up" (GPWS alarm).
Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader."
Controller: "Fire service leader, uh . . . The Concorde, I don't know its intentions, get yourself in position near the south doublet" (sound of switch).
Pilot: (unclear).
Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader authorisation to enter 26 right."
Co-pilot: "Le Bourget, Le Bourget, Le Bourget."
Pilot: "Too late (unclear)."
Controller: "Fire service leader, correction, the Concorde is returning to runway zero nine in the opposite direction."
Pilot: "No time, no (unclear)."
Co-pilot: "Negative, we're trying Le Bourget" (four switching sounds).
Co-pilot: "No (unclear)."
Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader, can you give me the situation of the Concorde" (two gongs and sound of switch, followed by another switch and sounds likened to objects being moved).
Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion).
Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion).
Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion).
Last sound noted on transcript at 16:44.30.18. Recording ends at 16:44.31.16.