Air France Flight 447 Trial Set To Start Next Week

Both Airbus and Air France will be on trial in Paris.

On the evening of May 31st, 2009, an Air France A330-200 took off from Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport to head to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. However, while over the Atlantic Ocean during the early hours of the following morning, the aircraft entered a high-altitude stall and crashed. All 12 crewmembers and 216 passengers died. Next week, Air France and Airbus will be on trial in Paris due to the tragic incident that occurred 13 years ago.

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Mid-Atlantic crash

The crash happened during an equatorial storm in the region. Yet, the crew of flight AF 447 was in communication with the Brazilian ATLANTICO control center at approximately FL350. At around 02:02 UTC, the captain, Marc Dubois, left the cockpit, and at approximately 02:08 UTC, the crew changed course 12 degrees left, which could have been to avoid returns picked up by the weather radar.

Two minutes later, the speed indications were incorrect, and some automatic systems disconnected. The cause of this was likely after the obstruction of the Pitot probes due to ice crystals. Thus, registration F-GZCP's path was not handled by the two copilots on board. A minute and a half later, the captain rejoined them while the twinjet was still in a stall until it hit the ocean around 02:14 UTC.

The investigation

It took two years to find the flight recorders on the floor of the Atlantic. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was deployed to gather the items from the bottom of the ocean.

According to a report by France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA), the incident resulted from the following:

• Temporary inconsistency between the measured airspeeds, likely following the obstruction of the Pitot probes by ice crystals that led in particular to autopilot disconnection and a reconfiguration to alternate law;
• Inappropriate control inputs that destabilized the flight path;
• The crew not making the connection between the loss of indicated airspeeds and the appropriate procedure;
• The PNF’s (pilot not flying) late identification of the deviation in the flight path and insufficient correction by the PF (pilot flying);
• The crew not identifying the approach to stall, the lack of an immediate reaction on its part and exit from the flight envelope;ˆ
• The crew’s failure to diagnose the stall situation and, consequently, the lack of any actions that would have made recovery possible.

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The aftermath

The crash led to numerous safety recommendations, and crucial shifts in the manner pilots are trained to deal with loss of control. Yet, the BEA has urged for more to be done when it comes to its long-lasting concerns.

In September 2019, charges in the matter were dropped, with investigating judges stating that the accident was due to a conjunction of elements that never happened before and that the dangers could not have been perceived. However, there was a twist in May 2021, with the Court of Appeal of Paris overturning the decision.

Loved ones of the relatives on board the flight that dark day are seeking justice for what occurred. Reuters notes that the maximum fine for either Airbus or Air France if convicted of involuntary manslaughter is around Ђ225,000 (USD 220,612). Nonetheless, for the victims' relatives, it's not about the money. They would be determined to hold someone accountable.