French court finds Air France, Airbus guilty of involuntary manslaughter over 2009 Rio-Paris crash
Key takeaways
- Issued on: 21/05/2026 - 14:15Modified: 21/05/2026 - 15:06
- While the penalties are symbolic, the ruling will be seen as significant reputational damage for both companies.
- Watch moreVictims’ families seek closure at Rio-Paris crash appeals trial
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Air France and Airbus were on Thursday found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a Paris appeals court in connection to the 2009 crash of a Rio-Paris flight that killed 228 people, the worst disaster in France's aviation history.
Issued on: 21/05/2026 - 14:15Modified: 21/05/2026 - 15:06
By: FRANCE 24 Airbus lawyer Antoine Beaucquier (R) arrives at the courthouse on Ile de la Cite in Paris ahead of the verdict in the trial of Airbus and Air France on charges of manslaughter in connection with the 2009 Rio-Paris flight crash, on May 21, 2026. © AFP, Stephane de Sakutin A Paris appeals court Thursday found Air France and Airbus guilty of involuntary manslaughter over the 2009 crash of a Rio-Paris flight that killed 228 people, the worst disaster in France's aviation history.