Airbus faces charges over 2009 A330 crash

PARIS — A French judge filed preliminary manslaughter charges Thursday against Airbus over the 2009 crash of an Air France jet — opening a rare criminal investigation against a corporate powerhouse.

The order from Judge Sylvie Zimmerman targeting the European planemaker centers on

the June 2009 crash into the Atlantic of an Airbus A330 bound for Paris from Rio de Janeiro, killing all 228 people on board.

The preliminary charges, which allow for further investigation, came after Airbus lawyers met with the judge on Thursday. Air France faces a similar hearing with the

judge on Friday, and too could be targeted.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Airbus CEO Thomas Enders, speaking to reporters afterward, said the planemaker disagreed with the judge’s “premature” decision — especially in light of the still-unsolved mystery about the crash.

He said Airbus will continue to cooperate with the probe.

A group of relatives of about 80 crash victims, whose French name translates as the AF447 Support and Solidarity Association, expressed tentative approval of the judge’s order.

“Of course we’re content — if that’s the right word — that there’s a first step in the legal process to determine the eventual responsibility in this accident,” said association vice president John Clemes, a Canadian financial company executive whose brother, Brad, died in the crash.

The preliminary charges against Airbus, the world’s top planemaker by orders in 2010 and a rival of Chicago-based Boeing Co., are unusual but not unprecedented. Airbus employees have been charged in France over previous crashes.

Air France flight 447 went down June 1, 2009, amid an intense, high-altitude thunderstorm. Automatic messages sent by the plane’s computers show it was receiving false air speed readings from sensors known as pitot tubes. Investigators have said the crash was likely caused by a series of problems, and not just sensor error.

Specialists are launching a fourth undersea search effort next week for the plane’s so-called black boxes, or flight recorders.

“We are convinced if we find the black boxes we’ll be able to reconstruct what really happened on this tragic flight Air France 447,” Enders said. Airbus officials say the search is a company priority.

Air France and Airbus will finance the estimated $12.5 million cost of the new search, in which three advanced underwater robots will scour the mountainous ocean floor between Brazil and western Africa, in depths of up to 4,000 meters (13,120 feet).

Already $27.5 million has been spent on three previous search attempts that failed to find Flight 447’s voice and data recorders.

The exact role the sensors played in the crash may never be known without the flight recorders.

Airbus knew since at least 2002 about the pitot problems, The Associated Press has reported. But air safety authorities did not order their replacement until after the crash.

Clemes, of the victims’ relatives group, told AP Television News the judge’s order was “a clear message that the speed probes were unsafe — and presumably people should have known or institutions should have known that they were unsafe.”

The tubes, about the size of an adult hand and fitted to the underbelly of a plane, are vulnerable to blockage from water and icing. Experts have suggested that Flight 447’s sensors, made by French company Thales SA, may have iced over and sent false speed information to the computers as the plane ran into a thunderstorm at about 35,000 feet (10,600 meters).

In November, Air France issued a memo to investigators saying the carrier had counted 15 incidents in which the sensors had iced over on the same aircraft type in the 10 previous months before the crash.

The airline said it had informed Airbus and Thales about those findings, and estimated that about 16 documents that traced Air France’s exchanges with Airbus showed that the planemaker didn’t respond to its concerns.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Madison Family Shelter Family Support Specialist Dan Blizard talks about one of the pallet homes on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Madison Family Shelter reopens after hiatus

The Pallet shelter village, formerly Faith Family Village, provides housing for up to eight families for 90 days.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Everett
Man stabbed in face outside Everett IHOP, may lose eye

Police say the suspect fled in the victim’s car, leading officers on a 6-mile chase before his arrest.

People swim in the Yost Pool during Open Fitness and Lap Swim on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Feeling the heat in Snohomish County: How hot will it get where you live?

Everett is expected to hit low 80s with inland areas reaching near 90.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Pat Cronin and Jamie Lyon look over a zoning district map draft of Everett on display during an Everett Planning Department open house at Everett Station on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to release final draft of comp plan

The city will release the draft of the planning document on May 30, staff said. It will likely go to a vote before the council in June.

Traffic moves across the US 2 trestle between Everett and Lake Stevens on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington climate goals jeopardized by U.S. Senate vote

The U.S. Senate revoked waivers allowing Washington to mandate strict vehicle emission standards

The Everett City Council on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett City Council approves apprenticeship ordinance

The new ordinance builds upon state law, requiring many city public works contracts to use at least 15% apprentice labor.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.