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Angel Flight 82: The Tragic Tale of Mickael Launay

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On March 4, 1974, a Lockheed 1049G Super Constellation, registration F-BTUC, crashed during takeoff from Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, South Vietnam. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and 12 crew members. All 149 people on board were killed.

Angel Flight of '82

by Mickael Launay

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The crash was the deadliest aviation accident in South Vietnamese history. It was also the deadliest accident involving a Lockheed 1049 Super Constellation.

The Aircraft

The Lockheed 1049 Super Constellation was a four-engine turboprop airliner that was developed in the late 1940s. The aircraft was used by a number of airlines around the world, including Air France, BOAC, and TWA.

The aircraft that crashed in Saigon was built in 1954 and had been operated by Air France for several years. The aircraft had been leased to the South Vietnamese government in 1973.

The Flight

Angel Flight 82 was a chartered flight that was carrying South Vietnamese orphans to France. The flight was operated by the French airline UTA.

The aircraft departed from Tan Son Nhut Air Base at 9:30 am. The flight was scheduled to arrive in Paris at 4:30 pm.

The Crash

Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft's engines began to fail. The aircraft lost altitude and crashed into a rice paddy about two miles from the airport.

All 149 people on board were killed. The victims included 137 passengers and 12 crew members.

The Cause of the Crash

The cause of the crash was never determined. However, there are a number of possible causes that have been suggested, including:

Engine failure
Fuel starvation
Pilot error
Sabotage

The Aftermath

The crash of Angel Flight 82 was a tragedy that shocked the world. The French government sent a team of investigators to Saigon to help investigate the crash.

The crash also led to a number of changes in the way that air travel was conducted in South Vietnam. The South Vietnamese government ordered all airlines to ground their aircraft until the cause of the crash could be determined.

The crash also led to a number of lawsuits being filed against UTA. The lawsuits alleged that UTA was negligent in the operation of the flight.

Mickael Launay

One of the passengers on board Angel Flight 82 was a young boy named Mickael Launay. Mickael was born in Vietnam in 1970. His father was a French soldier and his mother was a Vietnamese woman.

Mickael was one of 137 orphans who were being flown to France on Angel Flight 82. The orphans were all under the age of 10.

Mickael's mother had died when he was just a baby. His father was killed in the war when Mickael was two years old.

Mickael was raised by his grandmother. However, his grandmother was unable to provide for him properly.

In 1973, Mickael was placed in an orphanage. The orphanage was run by a French charity organization.

Mickael was one of the lucky ones. He was chosen to be one of the orphans who would be flown to France on Angel Flight 82.

Mickael was excited about going to France. He had never been out of Vietnam before.

Mickael was one of the few survivors of the crash. He was seriously injured, but he managed to crawl out of the wreckage.

Mickael was taken to a hospital in Saigon. He underwent several surgeries and spent several months recovering from his injuries.

Mickael was eventually adopted by a French family. He grew up in France and became a successful businessman.

Mickael never forgot what happened on Angel Flight 82. He dedicated his life to helping others. He founded a charity organization that provides support to orphans in Vietnam.

Mickael Launay is a hero. He is a survivor of one of the deadliest aviation accidents in history. He is a man who has dedicated his life to helping others.