<P> Another theory claims that there was deliberate misinformation on the part of the Anglo - French team . The main thrust of this theory was that the Anglo - French team knew that the Soviet team was planning to steal the design plans of the Concorde, and the Soviets were allegedly passed false blueprints with a flawed design . The case, it is claimed, contributed to the imprisonment by the Soviets of Greville Wynne in 1963 for spying . Wynne was imprisoned on 11 May 1963 and the development of the Tu - 144 was not sanctioned until 16 July . </P> <P> In 2005, during the production of the Russian documentary The Fight for Supersonic Flight: The Truth About the Tu - 144, E. Krupyanskiy said: "There were certain experimental control units present on the plane (Tu - 144), that were installed on the plane for the first time ." On the in - cockpit footage released before the test flight, the control console is clearly seen fully exposed on the back of the captain's seat . The control units were supposed to be disabled, with the console covered up and sealed for the test flight, but in the wreckage the console was found without seals or cover . Krupyanskiy said "They enabled a system, which was used to improve the manoeuverability characteristics of the aircraft...improving the effectiveness of the rudders ." </P> <P> E. Gorynov (another Tu - 144 test pilot) stated that he is completely sure that usage of these experimental technologies was not decided by the crew . He also stated that he was 30 meters away from the aircraft before the test flight and overheard a discussion by the crew, where the captain said loudly: "If we are going to die, then at least we will die all together ." This is further supported by the fact that after a meeting held in the evening before the flight, G.N. Bazhenov (the navigator on the flight) went to speak with E. Gorynov, who stated in the documentary that Bazhenov was very worried, and said the leadership had "come up with something", but that he would not be able to disclose anything in detail . It was concluded in the documentary by the narrator that the flight crew was not at fault for the incident . </P>

Tu-144 crash in 1973 at the paris air show