French Appeals Court Convicts Airbus and Air France of Manslaughter in 2009 Crash
A Paris appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of manslaughter for the 2009 crash of Flight AF447, which resulted in 228 fatalities.
A Paris appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of manslaughter in connection with the 2009 crash of Flight AF447, which resulted in the deaths of 228 passengers and crew. The court ruled that both companies were "solely and entirely responsible" for the accident and imposed the maximum fine of €225,000 on each.
The crash occurred on June 1, 2009, when Flight AF447, en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean. Investigations revealed that the aircraft's pitot tubes, which measure airspeed, had iced over, leading to incorrect speed readings. The pilots' subsequent actions caused the aircraft to stall and crash.
The court criticized Air France for failing to provide adequate training to pilots on handling pitot tube malfunctions and Airbus for underestimating the severity of the sensor issues and not promptly informing airlines of the risks. Both companies have denied criminal responsibility and are expected to appeal the verdict.
This ruling overturns a 2023 acquittal by a lower court, marking a significant development in the prolonged legal proceedings surrounding France's deadliest aviation disaster.