A French court has fined Swiftair, the owner of the plane that crashed in Mali in 2014, €225,000 for involuntary manslaughter. The crash, which occurred on July 24, 2014, killed all 116 people on board, including 54 French nationals and two residents of Rouen. The court found that the company was guilty of negligence in the training and supervision of the flight crew.
The plane, operated by Air Algerie, was flying from Ouagadougou to Algiers when it crashed in the Sahel region of Mali. An investigation by the French Bureau d'enquêtes et d'analyses found that the pilots had not activated the plane's anti-icing system, which contributed to the accident. The court heard that ice crystals had formed in the plane's pressure sensors, causing it to lose speed and leading to the fatal crash.
The court found that Swiftair had been negligent in its training and supervision of the flight crew, which contributed to the accident. The company has always denied responsibility for the crash, but the court rejected its claims. The fine of €225,000 is the maximum penalty allowed under French law for involuntary manslaughter.
Among the victims of the crash were two residents of Rouen, a father and son. Didier Police, 65, was a retired engineer, and his son Nicolas, 18, had recently obtained his high school diploma. The crash was a tragic event that had a profound impact on the families of the victims and the aviation industry as a whole.
The investigation into the crash highlighted a number of safety concerns, including the importance of proper training and supervision of flight crews. The French authorities have taken steps to improve safety procedures and prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
Swiftair has not commented on the court's decision, but it is understood to be considering an appeal. The company has faced criticism from the families of the victims and aviation experts for its handling of the crash and its response to the investigation.
The crash of the Air Algerie plane in Mali was one of the deadliest aviation accidents in recent history. The investigation and court proceedings have highlighted the importance of safety and accountability in the aviation industry, and the need for companies to prioritize the training and supervision of their flight crews.
Key points
- The French court fined Swiftair €225,000 for involuntary manslaughter over the 2014 Mali plane crash that killed 116 people.
- The court found that Swiftair was guilty of negligence in the training and supervision of the flight crew, which contributed to the accident.
- The crash highlighted a number of safety concerns, including the importance of proper training and supervision of flight crews.
