113 people died after the supersonic jetliner crashed seconds after taking
off from Paris.
An earlier inquiry found that Concorde ran over a strip of aluminium from a
Continental jet as it was taking off.
Continental said it would vigorously defend any criminal charges.

It's nearly eight years since an Air France Concorde crashed shortly after
take off from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris killing 113 people.

A French investigation concluded that the crash was caused by this, a strip
of aluminium.

It had fallen from a jetliner belonging to United States carrier
Continental Airlines.

The strip cut through a tyre from the Air France Concorde's as it was
taking off.

Rubber fragments punctured Concorde's fuel tank setting the jet on fire and
causing the crash.

Now a French public prosecutor has asked judges to bring manslaughter
charges against Continental, and two of its staff members.

The prosecutor also wants similar charges brought against a French engineer
involved in Concorde's development and the former head of the French civil
aviation authority.

Roland Rappaport is a lawyer for families of crash victims.

Roland Rappaport, Lawyer for victims' families, saying:
"They did not act, despite the incidents re-occurring, there have
been more than 70 over 20 years, and more than ten of those incidents involved
the Concorde's fuel tanks,  which were being affected by the explosion of
tyres. Can you imagine what it means to have a plane's fuel tanks leaking? But
nothing was done."

The world's only supersonic airliner, Concorde was flagship for Air France
and British Airways.

All were withdrawn from service in 2003.

Continental said it would vigorously defend any charges.

Andrew Potter, Reuters