Air France - Airbus crash

In a case that draws a parallel with the Paris Concorde disaster (see TNU March 2023), Air France and Airbus have been acquitted of manslaughter in relation to the June 2009 flight from Rio to Paris that killed 228 people.

Unlike the July 2012 Versailles court Concorde decision, which overturned a previous case, where the families go from here is difficult to see. With the power of Continental Airlines, the real culprits were found out.  This time it will not be so easy for the families and trade unions to pursue what could be a mammoth trail.

The judges said that Airbus had behaved with carelessness or negligence by failing to replace external speed sensors that were prone to icing up, and for withholding this information from airlines. However, Air France was aware of the problem and was also at fault for not widely circulating it to the pilots.

The French court said this did not amount to a crime since there was no certain link of casualty with the accident which could be proven.  No fines have been placed.  The families say they are sickened, voicing that a conviction was morally important. It would seem that any further action is now in the hands of the unions, who may have the money and the influence to proceed.  Continental took action and won.  

It is known that a film drama is being considered for the Concorde incident and subsequent court cases.  Any further publicity regarding the French legal system can only help in finding a more plausible final outcome for this A330 crash.

www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft/passenger-aircraft/a330-family

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