Paris, France. A Paris appeals court on Thursday found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio-Paris plane crash that killed 228 passengers and crew. The court ordered each company to pay a €225,000 fine.
Verdict and penalties
The court imposed the maximum fine for corporate manslaughter, €225,000 each, following prosecutors’ request during an eight-week trial. In 2023, a lower court had cleared the two companies, which have repeatedly denied the charges.
Families and the legal process
Relatives of victims gathered to hear the verdict after a 17-year legal effort to establish responsibility for France’s worst air disaster. Family groups said a conviction would represent recognition of their plight, while the fines have been dismissed as a token penalty.
Potential for further appeals
French lawyers have predicted further appeals to the country’s highest court, potentially extending the process for years and prolonging the ordeal for relatives.
Crash background and investigation findings
Flight AF447 vanished from radar screens on June 1, 2009, during an Atlantic storm, with people from 33 nationalities on board. The black boxes were recovered two years later after a deep-sea search.
In 2012, BEA crash investigators found the crew had pushed the Airbus A330 into a stall after mishandling a problem involving iced-up sensors. Prosecutors focused on alleged failures inside the planemaker and the airline, including poor training and a failure to follow up on earlier incidents.
What do you think the verdict means for the families of the victims?