Air France and Airbus Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter for 2009 Crash

The Paris Court of Appeal has convicted Air France and Airbus of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2009 crash of Flight AF447, which killed all 228 people on board.

Each company was ordered to pay a fine of 225,000 euros ($366,000), the maximum penalty for corporate manslaughter.

Key Details

The court ruled that Air France and Airbus were "solely and entirely responsible" for the disaster.

The crash occurred on June 1, 2009, when an Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed into the Atlantic Ocean during a storm, killing all 216 passengers and 12 crew members.

Both companies had been acquitted by a lower court in 2023. Prosecutors, who had initially requested charges be dropped, appealed to allow the legal process to proceed.

The companies have denied criminal liability, attributing the crash to pilot error. Investigators found that pilots mishandled a stall after iced-up sensors caused problems.

Reactions and Next Steps

Family groups view the conviction as formal recognition of their suffering.

French lawyers expect further appeals to the country's highest court, potentially prolonging the legal process.