Airbus, Air France Culpable for AF447 Crash, French Court Rules
Bloomberg
Last updated: May 22, 2026
In a significant legal development, French courts have found both Airbus SE and Air France guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 crash of an A330 jet. This ruling overturns a previous acquittal and assigns sole culpability for the deaths of all 228 on board.
- The Paris appeals court declared Airbus and Air France solely responsible for the catastrophe that occurred on the flight from Brazil to Paris. This decision came 17 years after the incident.
- Both companies have been ordered to pay a maximum fine of €225,000, equivalent to approximately $260,990. This penalty reflects the court's judgment of their role in the fatal crash.
- The original trial had acquitted the companies of criminal charges, but the appeals court has reversed that verdict, emphasizing the companies' culpable role in the involuntary manslaughter of the passengers and crew.
