1973 Paris Air Show Tu-144 crash - GIF

[schuylergrace]

From what I've read over the years, the short reason for the crash was that the pilots broke the plane. There are two main stories, though. In one the pilots were trying to avoid another aircraft and overstressed theirs in the evasive maneuver. In the other, the pilots were showing off and overstressed the airframe. Either way, the plane broke up, spraying fuel everywhere and landing on a bunch of homes. No one on the aircraft survived (a crew of maybe eight), and I think there were around 60-70 people killed, total.

[marksbug]

vid so bad cant tell squat. execpt somethen went boom or tail came appart.. the good close up of the bottom look great will no visable issues or leaks.

[schuylergrace]

I'm not sure which post you are replying to, but fuel wasn't leaking from the aircraft in flight. The aircraft suffered a major structural failure. When it came apart, the fuel tanks ruptured and sprayed fuel over the area as the plane crashed.

[marksbug]

thats more believable, and what I figured happened.