Air France, Airbus Found Guilty of Manslaughter in 2009 Rio-Paris Crash

Ekhbary News Agency | 2024-05-12

A Paris appeals court has found both Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter concerning the 2009 Rio-Paris plane crash, an incident that tragically claimed the lives of 228 passengers and crew. This ruling marks a significant turn in a protracted legal saga involving two of France's most prominent companies and the families of victims, predominantly from France, Brazil, and Germany.

Court Reverses Prior Acquittal, Imposes Fines

Relatives of those who perished when the Airbus A330 vanished during an Atlantic storm gathered to hear the verdict, concluding a 17-year legal battle to assign blame. The court mandated that each company pay the maximum corporate manslaughter fine of €225,000, aligning with prosecutors' demands during the eight-week trial. A lower court had, in 2023, cleared both firms, which consistently denied the charges. These maximum fines, amounting to mere minutes of either company's revenue, were widely perceived as a token penalty, for what it's worth. However, family groups expressed that a conviction provides a crucial recognition of their enduring plight.

Crash Details and Future Legal Path

Flight AF447 disappeared from radar screens on June 1, 2009, carrying individuals of 33 nationalities. The aircraft's black boxes were recovered two years later following an extensive deep-sea search. Investigators in 2012 determined that the flight crew had stalled the jet after mishandling a problem with iced-up sensors. Prosecutors, conversely, focused on alleged failures by the planemaker and airline, citing poor training and inadequate follow-up on previous incidents. French lawyers predict further appeals to the country's highest court, potentially extending the legal process for years and prolonging the ordeal for the grieving families.