The final, terrifying two minutes of flight AF4590

This is an edited transcript from the cockpit voice recorder of Concorde flight AF4590.

This is an edited transcript from the cockpit voice recorder of Concorde flight AF4590.

Flight cleared for take-off at 4:42.17pm.

Controller: "Air France 4590, runway 26 right, wind zero 90 knots, authorised take-off."

Co-pilot: "4590 taking off 26 right."

Pilot: "Is everyone ready?"

Co-pilot: "Yes."

Mechanic: "Yes."

Pilot: "Up to 100, 150. Top."

Unidentified voice on radio: "Go on, Christian."

Mechanic: "We have four heated up."

Co-pilot: "100 knots."

Pilot: "Confirmed."

Mechanic: "Four green."

Co-pilot: "V one".

Co-pilot: "Watch out."

Controller: "Concorde zero... 4590, you have flames.... you have flames behind you."

Radio voice: "Right"

Mechanic: "Stop."

Co-pilot: "Well received."

Mechanic: "Breakdown, eng, breakdown engine two.".

Radio voice: "It's burning badly, huh."

Mechanic: "Cut engine two."

Pilot: "Engine fire procedure".

Co-pilot: "Warning, the airspeed indicator, the airspeed indicator, the airspeed indicator."

Person in control tower: "It's burning badly ... I'm not sure it's coming from the engine."

Pilot: "Gear on the way up."

Controller: "4590, you have strong flames behind you."

Mechanic: "The gear."

Controller: "Beginning reception of a middle marker."

Co-pilot: "Yes, well received."

Mechanic: "The gear, no."

Controller: "You have priority to land."

Mechanic: "Gear"...

Co-pilot: "I'm trying."

Mechanic: "I'm hitting."

Pilot: "Are you cutting engine two?"

Mechanic: "I've cut it.

Controller: "End reception middle marker."

Co-pilot: "The airspeed indicator."

Co-pilot: "The gear won't come up."

Aircraft instrument: "Pull up, pull up."

Co-pilot: "The airspeed indicator."

Aircraft instrument: "Pull up."

Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader."

Controller: "Fire service leader, uh ... the Concorde, I don't know its intentions, get yourself in position near the south doublet."

Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader authorisation to enter 26 right."

Co-pilot: "Le Bourget, Le Bourget, Le Bourget."

Pilot: "Too late."

Controller: "Fire service leader, correction, Concorde is returning to runway zero nine in the opposite direction."

Pilot: "No time, no."

Co-pilot: "Negative, we're trying Le Bourget."

Co-pilot: "No."

Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader, can you give me the situation of the Concorde?"

Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion).

Last sound noted on transcript at 4:44.30.18pm. Recording ends at 4:44.31.16pm