17 Years After the Crash of Flight AF447: France Convicts Airbus and Air France

Some disasters never truly disappear from a nation's collective memory. The crash of Air France Flight 447 between Rio de Janeiro and Paris is one of those wounds in France that remains open even after nearly two decades. Now the Court of Appeal in Paris has issued a verdict that goes far beyond aviation: Airbus and Air France have been convicted of negligent manslaughter. For many relatives of the 228 victims, the decision marks a late moment of recognition—and at the same time the end of an almost endless legal ...