Captain Christian Marty couldn’t retract the gear. There also was no possibility to stop with the great speed attained. Port engines lost power drowning in fuel spray from the ruptured tank. Control surfaces on the port wing trailing edge were melting. The Charles de Gaulle tower crew watched Air France 4590 trailing fire beyond the V1, bereft of hope. Yet, the crew fought on to gain a landing strip only one minute away by their flight.
It was as tragic as watching the ‘37’ NAS Lakehurst, NJ crash.