Synopsis

On November 27, 2008, an aircraft conducting a post-maintenance test flight as XL Airways Germany Flight 888T crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of France, resulting in the loss of all seven people aboard. Subsequent investigations revealed that inadequate maintenance procedures had allowed water to infiltrate the aircraft's angle of attack (AOA) sensors. This water subsequently froze in flight, rendering the sensors inoperable. During the flight, the crew attempted to test the sta