The recording ended after two minutes 24 seconds as the plane crashed. The other black box, the flight data recorder, cut out 20 seconds before the plane hit the ground.

Flight 587 rode the turbulence from the Japanese jumbo for the first time 28 seconds before the flight data recorder stopped working and then again eight seconds before it broke down.

After analysing its evidence, investigators believe that the tail remained on the plane until after it was shaken by the Japanese jumbo’s slipstream for the second time.

What is certain, however, is that the plane began shaking violently after passing through the second wake effect.

The crew then lost control of the plane. They would not have been aware that the tail had come loose.

Both the twin engines are also believed to have broken-off the Airbus before impact.