In 2009, Air France Flight 447 en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, tragically killing all 228 people on board. Among the victims were three Irish women, Aisling Butler, Jane Deasy, and Eithne Walls. Following extensive investigations, Air France and Airbus have now been cleared of involuntary manslaughter charges related to the crash. Despite this, questions still remain about the root causes of the tragedy and what measures have been taken to prevent future aviation disasters. In this article, we will explore the details of the crash, the recent developments in the case, and what it means for the aviation industry.
Airbus and Air France have been acquitted of manslaughter charges over the deadly Flight 447 crash in 2009. The crash killed all 216 passengers and 12 crew members, including three Irish vacationers, and led to significant changes in aircraft safety measures. The official investigation found that multiple factors had contributed to the crash, including pilot error and the icing over of external sensors called pitot tubes, which provided the pilot with vital airspeed data.
Air France was accused of failing to have implemented training in the event of icing of the pitot probes despite the risks. Airbus, on the other hand, was accused of not doing enough to urgently inform airlines and their crews about faults with the pitot tubes, or to ensure training to mitigate risk.
An Associated Press investigation found that the type of pitot tubes used in the jet had posed problems since at least 2002, yet Airbus failed to replace them until after the crash.
The trial was fraught with emotion, with dozens of people who lost loved ones storming out of the court when the prosecutors called for acquittal. Distraught families also shouted down the chief executives of Airbus and Air France as the proceedings opened in October, crying out “shame!” as the executives took the stand.
During the two-month trial, families were wracked with anger and disappointment, but even state prosecutors argued for acquittal. They stated that the case did not produce enough proof of criminal wrongdoing by the companies. The investigators had laid responsibility primarily with the pilots, who also died in the crash. The full reasons for the crash will never be known, according to Air France.
Airbus and Air France had faced potential fines of up to €225,000 each if convicted. However, that didn’t happen, and Air France has already compensated families of those killed, who came from 33 countries, including many who were from Brazil.
The crash had a lasting impact on the aviation industry, leading to changes in regulations for airspeed sensors and in how pilots are trained. However, the case has highlighted the challenges of identifying responsibility of death in accidents that arise from a range of factors.
The acquittal has disappointed the victim’s families, with sobs breaking out among them in the courtroom as the judges read out the decision. Nonetheless, the verdict highlights the challenges of addressing and attributing responsibility in the recent rise in accidents that are typically brought about by a confluence of factors.
