French Court Reopens Trial Over AF447 Crash Between Rio and Paris

French courts have reopened proceedings against Air France and Airbus over the 2009 crash of Flight AF447, which killed all 228 people on board. The retrial comes after prosecutors successfully appealed a 2023 ruling that had cleared both companies of criminal liability.

The Airbus A330 plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009, en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. Investigators later determined the jet went down after its Pitot speed sensors iced over, triggering a cascade of failures that ended in an aerodynamic stall. The crew did not respond effectively to system warnings, according to the official report.

During the initial trial, judges acknowledged negligence by both companies but ruled there was insufficient proof of criminal responsibility. Prosecutors challenged that outcome, pressing for a deeper review of technical evidence and corporate decisions.

The case file highlights internal exchanges at Air France and Airbus over mounting reports of Pitot tube malfunctions across the A330 fleet. The judge identified four lapses by Airbus in handling the issue and one by Air France for failing to provide specific training to crews facing such failures.

The AF447 disaster prompted sweeping changes in aviation, from enhanced pilot training to technical upgrades in airspeed monitoring systems worldwide.

If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, each company faces a maximum fine of €225,000. While both continue to deny criminal fault, the retrial is being closely watched in the aviation sector and by families still seeking accountability.

The hearings are expected to last two months, with new expert testimony and fresh evidence under review.

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Ricardo Meier

Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.

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