Airbus fined over Concorde death

An open verdict was recorded at the inquest into the death of Mr Livall

Airbus has been fined £200,000 after admitting health and safety failures at the Concorde Museum near Bristol which lead to the death of a man in a fall.

Horace Livall, 71, from Bristol, fell through a 0.8m gap between steps and the aircraft door in September 2004.

The Bristol Aero Collection (BAC), which ran the visitor's centre, was fined £10,000 and £1,000 in costs.

Judge Lambert said: "The fine should reflect the anger felt. It was a tragedy waiting to happen."

Health and Safety Executive lawyers said Airbus and BAC were warned of the risks in the months before the accident.

'Heaviest burden'

Airbus and BAC were charged with breaking general duties to others and employees contravening the Health and Safety Act.

The court heard concerns were raised several times about the gap from employees and contractors, but each morning temporary wooden plinths were put in place around the craft to allow visitors access before they arrived.

My wife's father was a big Concorde fan and he was really looking forward to the visit Mark Nash - son-in-law

There were plans to hire contractors to build a permanent bridging solution, in the weeks before Mr Livall's death, but this had not been done.

Airbus claimed responsibility for health and safety lay with BAC which was contracted to operate the site.

Judge Lambert said Airbus "bears the heaviest burden of responsibility" for Mr Livall's death and BAC, a small aviation preservation charity run by volunteers, looked to it for guidance.

Mr Livall's son-in-law, Mark Nash and who was with him on the day of the accident, said after the sentencing: "My wife's father was a big Concorde fan and he was really looking forward to the visit.

"We don't want to comment on the fine, but we are just glad that it is all over now.

"It is good to hear that things have been put right and I think that Horace would have liked to have seen that."

At the inquest into the death of Mr Livall in June 2008, the jury returned an open verdict but added that there was a lack of a health and safety assessment, lack of communication and "unsatisfactory duty of care" to their conclusion.

A spokesman for Airbus said: "The incident at the Concorde exhibit in September 2004, resulting in the death of Mr Livall, was a terrible tragedy and our deepest sympathy and concern has been with his family and friends throughout the years since."