Overview

• Hearings began September 29 at the Paris cour d'appel, with sessions scheduled weekly and a ruling expected on November 27.
• The appeal reexamines charges of involuntary manslaughter that could bring fines of up to €225,000 for each company.
• Prosecutors allege Air France insufficiently trained and informed crews for Pitot‑icing events, while Airbus underestimated probe failures and failed to adequately warn operators.
• Families representing 281 civil parties call the case a new chance for accountability, pointing to multiple Pitot‑icing incidents reported before the crash.
• Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury attended the opening to express condolences and contest the grievances, as official inquiries have cited Pitot‑probe icing and an unrecovered stall as key factors.