A minutes silence was observed yesterday by mourners who gathered near Charles de Gaulle Airport to remember those who died when an Air France Concorde crashed, just after take-off, a decade ago. In Gonesse, the suburb of Paris where the accident happened, two ceremonies took place. The first was attended by around 70 people including officials, Air France employees and members of the public.

Jean Pierre Blazy, the local mayor, said that the accident would forever remain in the memories of the local people because it was such a horrendous experience.  At the ceremony Mr Blazy added that he hoped the results of an investigation into what caused the crash would bring some closure. He went on to say that he feared however that the verdict, due at the end if the year, would hold nobody accountable.

US carrier Continental Airlines is currently being held responsible as it is widely believed that the accident was the result of a piece of metal falling from one of the company’s aircraft.

President of the board of directors of Air France, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, said that the mayor’s comments about the investigation were upsetting and asked him to wait for the results of the inquiry before voicing his opinions.

A second ceremony was held later in the day and was attended by around 150 people. A number of family members of those who died in the crash were present and Air France officials placed roses on a memorial. A total of 113 people died when flight 4590, bound for New York, crashed into a hotel.