New Trial Commences for Air France and Airbus Over AF447 Disaster

French Appeals Court Reopens AF447 Case

A French appeals court has commenced a new trial against Air France and Airbus, 16 years after the tragic crash of Flight AF447. The jetliner, an Airbus A330-203, plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009, while en route from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France, resulting in the deaths of all 228 people on board. This new legal proceeding follows a previous acquittal of both companies in 2023 on charges of corporate manslaughter.

The Catastrophic Events of June 2009

The investigation into the disaster, which included a two-year search to recover the aircraft's black boxes from the ocean floor, concluded that the crash was a result of a complex chain of events. French investigators determined that temporary inconsistencies in airspeed measurements, likely caused by ice crystals obstructing the pitot tubes, led to the autopilot disconnecting. The crew then reacted incorrectly to the situation, inadvertently putting the aircraft into an aerodynamic stall from which they failed to recover. The final report, released in 2012, highlighted issues with both the aircraft's systems and the crew's response.

Previous Acquittal and Subsequent Appeal

In April 2023, a lower French court acquitted both Air France and Airbus of involuntary manslaughter charges. Despite acknowledging several acts of negligence—four attributed to Airbus and one to Air France—the court ruled that there was no direct causal link between these failures and the accident under French criminal law. This verdict was met with significant disappointment and outrage from the victims' families, who had persistently sought accountability. Consequently, prosecutors appealed the decision, leading to the current retrial.

The Current Appeals Trial and Its Implications

The new trial, which began on Monday, September 29, 2025, is expected to last for two months and will involve a full examination of the evidence. Both Air France and Airbus continue to deny any criminal liability. The maximum fine for corporate manslaughter in France is €225,000, but prosecutors and victims' families emphasize the significant legal and symbolic importance of the trial. For the families of the 228 victims, this renewed legal battle represents another opportunity for justice and closure, while the outcome could also set important precedents for aviation safety and corporate accountability globally.