A French appeals court found Airbus SE and Air France guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 crash of Flight 447 that killed all 228 people aboard. The Paris court overturned a previous ruling and imposed maximum fines of €225,000 against both companies. The judgment sets a significant precedent for corporate liability in aviation accidents.

The flight plunged 38,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009, after airspeed sensors iced over during the journey. The companies had been cleared of charges in April 2023 when a lower court ruled they had made errors of "imprudence" but found "no indisputable link of causality." Prosecutors successfully appealed that decision.

Airbus vowed to appeal the latest ruling before France's highest court, calling it contradictory to earlier decisions. The judgment adds legal and reputational risks for both companies while potentially triggering further litigation from victims' families. The case has significant implications for aviation safety protocols and corporate accountability standards.