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French Court Convicts Airbus and Air France in Air France Flight 447 Crash
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In Short: A French appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of manslaughter in the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447, which killed 228 people, ordering both companies to pay a maximum fine of 225,000 euros per passenger.
A French appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of manslaughter in the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447, which killed 228 people, the worst aviation disaster in the country’s history. The Paris Court of Appeal ruled that both companies were 'solely and entirely responsible for the crash of flight AF447' and ordered a payment of 225,000 euros ($261,720) for each passenger, the maximum fine possible for corporate manslaughter.
Airbus and Air France have blamed pilot error for the crash, but lawyers for passengers' families argued that both companies knew about issues with the plane's pitot tubes, which measure flight speed. Air France lawyer Pascal Weil stated in October that the company 'had the means to conduct high-altitude training, but we did not do so because we sincerely believed it was unnecessary.
Following the ruling, Airbus announced its intention to appeal to France’s highest court, stating that the latest finding contradicted submissions from prosecutors and the 2023 acquittal.
US Air Force footage showed the rescue of 11 people after a private plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, unrelated to the Air France Flight 447 case.
Background
Air France, stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the flag carrier of France, and is headquartered in Tremblay-en-France. The airline is a subsidiary of the Air France–KLM Group and is one of the founding members of the SkyTeam airline alliance.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- A French appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of manslaughter in 2009 Rio de Janeiro-Paris crash that killed 228 people – the worst aviation disaster in the country’s history.
- The Paris Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday that both companies were “solely and entirely responsible for the crash of flight AF447”, and ordered a payment of 225,000 euros ($261,720) for each passenger, the maximum…
- Following the ruling, Airbus said it would appeal to France’s highest court, saying the latest finding contradicted submissions from prosecutors and the 2023 acquittal.
- While Airbus and Air France have blamed pilot error, the lawyers for passengers’ families argued that both companies knew that there was a problem with the plane’s pitot tubes, which measure flight speed.
- Air France lawyer Pascal Weil said in October that the company “had the means to conduct high-altitude training, but we did not do so because we sincerely believed it was unnecessary”.
- US Air Force footage showed the rescue of 11 people after a private plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean