Concorde crash hotel named

The hotel destoyed after an Air France Concorde crashed into it this afternoon is understood to be the Hôtelissimo in Gonesse, 10 miles north of Paris.

In addition to the 109 passengers believed dead, at least four people in the hotel's restaurant were killed, according to firefighters speaking on French radio.

The two-star hotel has 40 bedrooms and is believed to be part of a small chain.

Sid Hare, a pilot for Federal Express who witnessed the crash from his nearby hotel room, was quoted on CNN as saying: "It was a sickening site when it hit. A huge fireball. Like a mini atomic bomb going off."

The manager of the nearby Campanille in Gonesse said the crash site was not visible from his hotel. But he added: "We've heard the explosion and seen a lot of smoke."

Another witness told French radio: "There is one part of the hotel that wasn't touched and the annex of the hotel is completely in flames."