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Prosecutors Seek to Overturn AF447 Acquittal, Urge Manslaughter Convictions for Airbus and Air France

Any ruling would impose limited fines yet carry weight for corporate accountability in aviation safety.

Overview

  • Paris prosecutors asked the appeals court to reverse the 2023 acquittal and convict both companies of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 Atlantic crash that killed 228 people.
  • They argue Airbus underestimated the severity of Pitot-probe icing and failed to issue urgent warnings, while Air France did not provide adequate pilot training or sufficient crew information.
  • As corporate entities, Airbus and Air France face a maximum fine of €225,000 each if found guilty.
  • Families filled the courtroom as prosecutors condemned the companies’ defenses and stressed that the AF447 pilots were not responsible for the accident.
  • A decision is expected in the coming months, and Airbus said it has taken note of the requisitions and will answer during its pleading on Thursday.