Overview
- Proceedings opened Monday afternoon for a four‑week hearing, with several dozen relatives of the 116 victims in attendance.
- The court will address Swiftair’s non bis in idem objection, tied to a prior Spanish non‑lieu, at the end of the trial alongside the merits.
- Defense lawyers criticized what they called prosecutorial unpreparedness after multiple witnesses were not properly summoned, prompting an apology from the prosecutor.
- Investigators concluded the crew did not activate anti‑icing, leading to ice crystal contamination of pressure sensors, automatic engine deceleration, and an unrecovered stall.
- French judges cited insufficient crew training and other operational failings in bringing involuntary manslaughter charges, while Swiftair denies wrongdoing and points to flight‑manual gaps and alleged shortcomings by Boeing and EASA.