French Prosecutors Seek Conviction of Airbus and Air France in AF447 Appeal

Overview

• In closing arguments, prosecutors urged annulment of the earlier ruling and called the companies' defense "indecent."
• Airbus and Air France face involuntary manslaughter charges tied to the 2009 Rio–Paris crash that killed 228 people over the Atlantic.
• The prosecution argues Air France failed to train crews for Pitot-probe icing scenarios and says Airbus underestimated sensor risks and delayed warnings.
• The appeal reexamines the April 2023 verdict that acknowledged negligence but found no proven causal link, resulting in acquittals.
• The hearings have run in Paris since late September, and prosecutors told families they expect the court to issue a ruling in the coming months.