Student Documentary on Concorde History, Technology and Tragedy Debuts at Embry‑Riddle

In a timely tribute to the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Concorde crash, students from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University's Aviation and Aerospace Communication class have produced a compelling documentary exploring the iconic aircraft's remarkable design, storied history and final tragic accident.

The film’s premiere, which took place on April 1 at the Mori Hosseini Student Union during the university’s College of Arts & Sciences Week activities, featured a screening of the documentary, followed by a panel discussion with the film’s creators and select subject matter experts, including Robert L. Sumwalt, executive director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety, who previously served as chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The discussion also included a question-and-answer session moderated by Dr. Andy Oler, associate professor and chair of the Humanities and Communication Department.

Embry‑Riddle student Jillian Preite, a senior Communication major on the Broadcast Meteorology Track, spearheaded the project after she became fascinated by both the history and the innovation of the Concorde.

“The Concorde was a technological masterpiece,” Preite said at the screening. “The design work for the plane was done in the 1960s, and its first commercial flight took place in 1976. When you think about the advanced innovation — from the design and manufacturing to the supersonic speed — it really revolutionized commercial air travel at the time.”

Preite also noted the Concorde disaster on July 25, 2000, as being part of the aircraft’s legacy. “The aircraft itself has this incredible story arc — a story of triumph and tragedy,” she said.

‘One of the Greatest Technical Achievements of Mankind’

With cruising speeds of up to 1,350 mph, the Concorde flew at Mach 2, twice the speed of sound. For comparison, most typical commercial airliners have a cruising speed of 514 mph.

“What [Concorde] did was absolutely mind-blowing,” said Concorde pilot John Tye during an interview for the documentary. Tye was one of only 134 pilots to fly Concorde for British Airways.

“We’d only just gotten color television when Concorde first flew, so this was one of the greatest technical achievements of mankind,” he said.

The experience of flying on the Concorde was also “very high-end and sophisticated,” according to Jeffrey Tucker, who often flew on the Concorde for business purposes. The lounges, flight crew, food and décor were refined and elegant.

The Concorde has become an aviation icon. The supersonic jet flew at Mach 2 and could cross the Atlantic in three and a half hours. (Photo: Getty Images)

‘An Absolute Tragedy’

On July 25, 2000, at 2:42 p.m., Air France Flight 4590 took off from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris when one of the plane’s left tires struck a small piece of sheet metal left on the runway. Debris from the damaged tire hit the plane’s fuel tank, leading to a catastrophic fire.

Approximately 90 seconds after the beginning of the takeoff roll, the Concorde crashed into a nearby hotel. The accident claimed 113 lives.

Sumwalt, a commercial airline pilot at that time, remembered the accident well.

“As an aviator, your heart seizes when you hear about any accident with a loss of life,” said Sumwalt, who served 15 years at the NTSB and held the position of chairman from 2017 to 2021. “And Concorde’s reputation and visibility made the accident that much more catastrophic.”

Anthony Brickhouse, associate professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety, explained that the French government and regulators led the accident investigation. The investigation later revealed that a crucial sweep of the runway for debris did not happen, leading to the chain of events causing the fire.

“The fire was so intense, it actually damaged the aircraft to the point where they couldn’t control [the plane],” Brickhouse said during an interview for the documentary.

The fleet was subsequently grounded until November 2001. Afterward, Concorde only flew for two more years until its final flight on November 26, 2003, when its operations ceased due to excessive costs.

‘It’s Critical That We Never Forget’

During the film’s premiere event, Preite and colleague Mallory Kinahan, a Communication student with minors in Business Administration and Latin American Studies, discussed the film’s intensive production.

“It took significant time and effort to gather videos, conduct interviews and edit the final piece,” Preite said. “The video editing alone took 10 hours, not including extensive preparation and research.”

She added, “The interviews with John Tye and Jeffrey Tucker, along with Professor Brickhouse, put the information in a context that can’t be found in any other historical record of the Concorde. Their participation in the project offers a unique perspective. I am additionally thankful for the assistance of Maxime Kirschner, who provided valuable research into the souls aboard the Concorde that fateful day.”

Steven Master, associate professor and coordinator for the bachelor’s degree program in Communication, commended the students on their work. “Jillian and Mallory have managed to tell the story of Concorde in a way that respects the aircraft’s technological significance while remembering the tragedy that took place and honoring the lives lost,” he said.

Sumwalt agreed. "It is critical that we never forget the details of the tragedy so that we may learn from mistakes and apply lessons learned to improve the technology of the future. By remembering the past, these students have also helped to contribute greatly to the future of hypersonic travel,” he said.

The documentary is currently being submitted to various film festivals, with the aim of sharing the story of Concorde with others. An upcoming showing will take place on Saturday, April 12, at 6 p.m., at the Cinematique Daytona in Daytona Beach, Florida. Visit www.reelfilmfoundation.org to learn more.

For those interested in showing the documentary, contact Jillian Preite at jpreite25@gmail.com for more information.

Posted In: Aviation