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Airbus, Air France face criminal trial over Rio-Paris crash

Published:Monday | October 10, 2022 | 11:19 AM
Workers unload debris, belonging to the crashed Air France flight AF447, from the Brazilian Navy's Constitution Frigate in the port of Recife, northeast of Brazil, June 14, 2009. It was the worst plane crash in Air France's history, killing people of 33 nationalities and having a lasting impact. It led to changes in air safety regulations, how pilots are trained and the use of airspeed sensors. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

PARIS (AP) — Airbus and Air France went on trial on manslaughter charges Monday over the crash of a Rio de Janeiro to Paris flight in 2009 that plunged into the Atlantic amid thunderstorms, killing all 228 people aboard and leading to changes in air safety regulations.

The worst plane crash in Air France history killed people of 33 nationalities, and families from around the world are among the plaintiffs in the case. 

They fought for more than a decade to see the case come to trial.

“It's very important that we made it to the trial stage. ... Thirteen years of waiting, it is almost inhuman,” said German Bernd Gans, who lost his daughter Ines in the crash.

Another man came to the trial with a cardboard sign reading: “French Justice. 13 Years Too Late.”

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and Air France CEO Anne Rigail were among those at the courthouse Monday.

Both companies deny criminal wrongdoing, though Air France has already compensated the families of those killed.

If convicted, each company faces potential fines of up to 225,000 euros ($219,000), a fraction of their annual revenues.

No one risks prison as only the companies are on trial.

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