Sep. 29 at 6:49 PM
Sixteen years after the crash of an Air France A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris that killed all 228 people on board, the appeal trial against Airbus and Air France opened in Paris on Monday. Both companies again denied criminal responsibility, two years after being acquitted in the first trial.
The proceedings began with the reading of the victims’ names, an emotional moment for families from 33 countries, mainly France, Brazil, and Germany. But frustration quickly surfaced when Air France CEO Anne Rigail and Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury offered condolences while rejecting any liability. Victims’ lawyers described their statements as scripted and lacking humanity.
Investigations pointed to faulty speed sensors and insufficient pilot training as contributing factors. Families argue that Airbus ignored repeated issues with the probes and that Air France failed to prepare its pilots, making them culpable for involuntary manslaughter.
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