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The Court of Appeal of Paris convicts Airbus and Air France of involuntary corporate manslaughter over the 2009 crash of Flight AF447, which killed 228 people. Overturning a 2023 acquittal, the court rules both companies were fully responsible for the disaster due to systemic negligence rather than solely pilot error. Airbus is faulted for failing to address known pitot tube vulnerabilities, while Air France is criticized for inadequate pilot training on high-altitude stall scenarios. Although the financial fines are symbolic, the ruling marks a major legal and reputational shift in corporate aviation accountability.
Thursday, 21 May, 2026