An appeals trial concerning the tragic 2009 crash of an Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, resulting in the loss of 228 lives, has commenced in Paris. The trial, which began in the afternoon, is anticipated to span a period of two months.
The ill-fated Air France flight AF447 met its catastrophic end on June 1, 2009, as it traversed the Atlantic Ocean. Tragically, all 216 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the Airbus A330 aircraft, including 72 French nationals and 58 Brazilians, perished when the pilots lost control of the plane, leading to its descent into the ocean.
While both the airline and aircraft manufacturer were cleared of involuntary manslaughter charges in a previous ruling due to identified errors without conclusive evidence linking them to the crash, the recent appeal trial has reignited legal proceedings. The prosecution, despite initially requesting dropping the charges, has pursued the appeal to ensure the complete legal process unfolds.
If found guilty in the ongoing trial, Air France and Airbus could potentially face a fine of 225,000 euros ($264,000) along with significant damage to their reputations. The original trial primarily focused on the malfunction of “pitot tubes,” crucial components for measuring flight speed, during a mid-Atlantic storm. The court heard how the failure of these tubes, leading to alarms in the cockpit and disengagement of the autopilot system, prompted a fatal chain of events culminating in the aircraft’s crash.
While Air France and Airbus attributed the crash to pilot error, families of the victims contended that both companies were aware of the pitot tube issues beforehand and failed to adequately address them. The court acknowledged lapses in judgment by Airbus and Air France, citing negligence in replacing faulty pitot tube models and inadequate communication with flight crews, but deemed these shortcomings insufficient to establish criminal liability for the crash.
Daniele Lamy, president of the victims’ association, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, echoing the sentiments of Brazilian families who were critical of the previous acquittal. Recovery of the flight recorders from the depths of the sea took nearly two years post-accident, emphasizing the complexity and scale of the investigation.
The appeals trial is scheduled to conclude on November 27, marking a crucial chapter in the pursuit of justice for the devastating 2009 Air France crash.