Christian Marty
Christian Henri Marty | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 12, 1945 France |
| Died | July 25, 2000 (aged 54) |
| Occupation(s) | Aviator, extreme sportsman |
| Known for | Captain of Air France Flight 4590, first sailboard Atlantic crossing |
Christian Henri Marty (born 12 November 1945, died 25 July 2000) was a French aviator and the captain of Air France Flight 4590. Prior to his profession in aviation, he was engaged in extreme sports.
Athletic career
Marty's athletic pursuits included long-distance windsurfing, rally racing, cycling, skiing, and hang gliding. In 1980, he completed a windsurfing journey from Nice, France, to Calvi in Corsica, covering a significant distance.
On 28 November 1981, Marty embarked on an Atlantic Ocean crossing from Dakar, Senegal, using a custom sailboard with support from a supply vessel. After an unsuccessful first attempt, he succeeded on his second try beginning 12 December 1981, arriving in Kourou, French Guiana on 18 January 1982. He was the pioneer in crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a sailboard, traveling approximately over nearly 38 days.
Aviation career
Marty earned his pilot's license on 12 July 1967 and obtained his commercial pilot certification two years later in 1969. He commenced his career with the renowned Air France airline. Over his tenure, he piloted various aircraft models such as the Airbus A300, A320, A340, Boeing 727, 737, and notably the Concorde. On 16 August 1999, Marty was inducted into the exclusive cadre of pilots authorized to operate the Concorde.
Death
Marty served as captain of Air France Flight 4590 on 25 July 2000, flying from Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. During taxiing, the aircraft struck a metal strip that had fallen from a Continental Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10, resulting in tire damage which led to a fuel tank rupture and subsequent fire. The plane lost control and crashed into a hotel located in Gonesse, near Charles de Gaulle Airport. The tragedy claimed the lives of all 109 passengers and crew aboard as well as four individuals on the ground. Marty was laid to rest in Villars-Colmars on 9 August.