Air France and Airbus Face Retrial Over 2009 Rio-Paris Crash
Air France and Airbus have once again appeared in court over the 2009 plane crash on the Rio de Janeiro–Paris route that claimed the lives of 228 people.
The trial, which began at the Paris Court of Appeal, sees both companies charged with “involuntary manslaughter.” If found guilty, they could face fines of up to €225,000 (around $263,000). Air France and Airbus have so far maintained that they bear no responsibility for the tragedy.
Background of the Crash
On June 1, 2009, Air France Flight AF447, an Airbus A330, encountered a severe storm over the Atlantic Ocean, disappeared from radar, and crashed into the sea. All 228 passengers and crew on board were killed. It remains the deadliest accident in Air France’s history.
The wreckage and flight recorders were only recovered in May 2011, nearly two years later, at a depth of about 4,000 meters. The investigation determined that the aircraft’s Pitot tubes, used to measure airspeed, malfunctioned due to icing, and the cockpit crew lost control when faced with the sudden situation.
Previous Ruling
In a trial held two years ago, a lower court acknowledged that the companies had at times acted “negligently or carelessly,” but concluded there was no direct causal link between this behavior and the crash, acquitting both firms. Prosecutors, however, appealed the decision, bringing the case before the appellate court.
This new retrial, starting 16 years after the tragedy, brings the families’ pursuit of justice back into the spotlight.
