Air France and Airbus Face Retrial Over 2009 Rio–Paris Crash
More than 16 years after the tragic crash of Air France Flight AF447, the airline and aircraft manufacturer Airbus are once again on trial. The Paris appeals court opened proceedings on Monday, examining charges of involuntary manslaughter related to the disaster that claimed the lives of all 228 passengers and crew members on board.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2009, during a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. The Airbus A330 disappeared from radar after encountering severe weather. It ultimately plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, and the wreckage was located only in May 2011, at a depth of approximately 4,000 metres. The final recovery of the flight data recorder and the victims’ bodies took years, prolonging the quest for answers about the disaster.
Investigators determined that the crash was primarily caused by the crew becoming overwhelmed when the plane’s Pitot speed-monitoring tubes iced up, resulting in faulty airspeed readings. This incident remains the deadliest in Air France’s history.
In a previous ruling two years ago, a lower court acquitted both Air France and Airbus of the manslaughter charges. While the court acknowledged instances of negligence or carelessness, it found no direct causal link to the crash. This decision was met with disappointment by the victims’ families and prompted prosecutors to appeal the verdict, leading to the current retrial.
Both companies now face potential fines of up to €225,000 (approximately $263,000). Throughout the legal proceedings, Air France and Airbus have maintained their stance of denying responsibility for the disaster.
As the retrial unfolds, the focus will be on whether the court can establish a direct connection between the actions of the companies and the tragic events of that fateful night. The implications of this case extend beyond legal accountability; they touch on issues of aviation safety and the responsibilities of airlines and manufacturers. The families of the victims continue to seek justice, hoping for clarity and closure as the court revisits this heartbreaking chapter in aviation history.
