Part 6/10:
The ongoing inability to follow protocols had deep-rooted implications, as Air France had a noted history of discouraging blind adherence to standard operating procedures. This culture inadvertently encouraged pilots to improvise instead of strictly following checklists, potentially resulting in flawed decision-making.
Danger Lurking Ahead
As time progressed, the visible results of the neglect became evident. A maintenance engineer entered the cockpit and reported visible signs of fuel leaking from the left engine, a strong confirmation of the issue that required immediate attention. Instead of shutting down the affected engine and proceeding with an emergency landing, focused discussions suggested a delay, just to see how the situation would play out.