Continental Airlines cleared of criminal responsibility in Concorde crash November 29, 2012 -- Updated 1640 GMT (0040 HKT) (File photo) Concorde lands in Paris after its last transatlantic flight for Air France in 2003. French appeals ruling upholds lower court decision in Concorde case Court upholds a civil judgment against U.S. carrier The Air France Concorde crash killed 113 people after a metal strip blew a tire Investigators say the metal strip fell off of a Continental jetliner (CNN) -- A French appeals court on Thursday cleared Continental Airlines of criminal responsibility for the Air France Concorde crash that killed 113 people in 2000, but affirmed a civil judgment against the U.S. carrier. Continental, which has since merged with United Airlines, had appealed a 2010 ruling that blamed the company and one of its mechanics for the crash of Flight 4590 shortly after takeoff from Paris. Beyond Concorde: The next generation of supersonic flight The appeals court upheld the findings of a lower court -- that a strip of metal that fell off a Continental jet was responsible for a chain of events that led to the crash. But the appeals court said a criminal conviction was not justified, CNN affiliate BFM-TV reported. But because the appeals court agreed with the findings of what led to the crash, the U.S. airline must still pay more than $1.2 million (1 million euros) to Air France as ordered by the lower court, BFM-TV reported. Read more: Continental Airlines and mechanic guilty in deadly Concorde crash Air France has paid an unspecified sum in damages to the families of most of the victims of the only Concorde crash. An investigation revealed that the Concorde jet struck a small strip of titanium and blew a tire during takeoff from Charles de Gaulle airport on July 25, 2000. The blown tire scattered debris into the left wing and ruptured the fuel tank. The supersonic jet burst into flames and crashed into a hotel, killing 100 passengers, nine crew and four people on the ground. The titanium strip allegedly fell off a Continental DC-10 which took off just before the Concorde. Judicial investigators said the strip was improperly installed on the DC-10 engine, prompting the charges against Continental. Air France and British Airways stopped Concorde service in 2003 because the flights did not make money. November 29, 2012 -- Updated 1325 GMT (2125 HKT) Private-aircraft manufacturers are targeting Africa's growing economies as the continent is emerging as a hub in global business aviation. November 29, 2012 -- Updated 1151 GMT (1951 HKT) Thick, handsome mustaches have long been prized by men throughout the Middle East as symbols of masculine virility, wisdom and maturity. November 29, 2012 -- Updated 1136 GMT (1936 HKT) Smartphones make us used to being constantly connected, even on vacation. But now a growing number of hotels offer "digital detox" packages. A new study concludes that smoking can damage your mind, too. A consistent association was observed between smoking and lower cognitive functioning, including memory. November 28, 2012 -- Updated 2142 GMT (0542 HKT) While obesity rates soar in the developed world, the paradox is that more and more amateur athletes are taking on extreme endurance challenges.