Paris appeals court finds Airbus, Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter in 2009 Rio-Paris plane crash

A Paris appeals court found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter in the 2009 Rio-Paris crash that killed 228 passengers and crew, and ordered each company to pay the maximum fine of €225,000. The ruling is negative from a legal and reputational standpoint, but the direct financial penalty is limited. The case reinforces litigation and governance risk for both companies.

Analysis

A Paris appeals court found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter in the 2009 Rio-Paris crash that killed 228 passengers and crew, and ordered each company to pay the maximum fine of €225,000. The ruling is negative from a legal and reputational standpoint, but the direct financial penalty is limited. The case reinforces litigation and governance risk for both companies.