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Regarding the lightning, I heard on the live ATC archive feed the KLM heavy behind the Air France plane got a report of a lightning strike in the approach path about 6 miles ahead just moments prior to the crash. People on another board (not a.net!) heard that as well. What is the seperation between heavy's usually?
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That's typical separation and what that report confirms is that the Air France was shooting an approach through a thunderstorm on the approach end of the runway. Probably the stupidest thing you can do in aviation but, unfortunately, not that rare.
Probably we'll find that there was another airplane in front of Air France who did it successfully, maybe several. That's one of the big sucker plays. If the guy in front made it all right then I'll probably make it all right. It's been a factor in most fatal windshear crashes. I wouldn't be surprised that if Air France had made it, that KLM would have attempted despite the lightning report. Hopefully not, but seen it too many times.
What many pilots don't realize is, you don't get to fly through the same weather as the guy right in front of you. Thunderstorms are too dynamic and changing too quickly for that. Every thunderstorm penetration is it's own decision, no one else can make it for you. Of course any thunderstorm penetration is a violation of good sense and your company ops manual.
The only difference between this runway excursion and the one in LIT that killed so many people is these guys were lucky enough to not hit something that would break the fuselage into pieces. But this was no garden variety excursion. It went into a ravine large enough to consume the airplane (from ground level all you could see was the tail) and produced an intense fire. Total hull loss.
And excellent job by the cabin crew in getting people off. Also looks like first rate job by the ground response teams. Captain gets an F.