Both Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) and Flight Data Recorders (FDR) from the Etihad Airbus A340-600 that smashed into a blast wall at Toulouse-Blagnac airport last week, have now been sent for analysis.
The accident, which left three people seriously hurt and several more with lesser injuries, occurred during ground engine tests and resulted in massive damage to the aircraft.
Etihad declined to release any pictures of the incident but other footage shows the A340-600 in a nose-up position against the wall and with the front fuselage seemingly ripped apart.
The CVR and FDRs have been transferred to the French accidents investigation service - the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA) - and are of good quality according to the agency.
A BEA statement notes: ”The aircraft was at a stop. The wheels were not blocked [and] a final engine test, under brakes, was running. The first information from the data recorders shows that the four engines were operating at high power for around three minutes.
”The aircraft started to move forward and hit a blast wall 13 seconds later. At this stage, no technical malfunction with regards to the braking systems or engines can be detected.”
No further information is available from Etihad apart from its comment that: ”The aircraft involved in the incident was undergoing pre-delivery tests. It was scheduled to be delivered to Etihad Airways' Abu Dhabi base.”