Rio-Paris crash: Families ask Macron to prevent Airbus's appeal

Danièle Lamy, president of the association of families of victims of the Rio-Paris flight crash, addressed an open letter to the president Emmanuel MacronShe is asking him to intervene to prevent Airbus and Air France from appealing to the Court of Cassation after their conviction for manslaughter, handed down on May 21st. As the French state is the main shareholder of both groups, the families of the 228 people who died on June 1st, 2009, are hoping for political pressure to put an end to fifteen years of legal proceedings.

The State, as a shareholder, was approached

The two companies were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the air disaster that claimed the lives of all those on board the Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. The prospect of further legal action is seen as an additional ordeal by the bereaved families. They expect the government to use its influence within the boards of directors to prevent the litigation from dragging on.

Fifteen years of legal proceedings

This action reveals the persistent frustration of the family and friends with the exceptionally long legal proceedings. Despite the landmark conviction obtained after years of struggle, the risk of an appeal to the Court of Cassation threatens to further delay the final outcome of this case. The appeal to Emmanuel Macron reflects the hope for a strong political gesture in a tragedy that remains one of the deadliest air accidents in French history.