an airliner crash in 2009 is finally at trail... Air France and Airbus deny involuntary manslaughter, 228 people died.

The firms deny involuntary manslaughter in the loss of the Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

Investigators found the pilots had lost control when air-speed sensors froze, and all 228 people on board died.

The Air France Flight 447 crashed hours after departing from Rio de Janeiro, having run into a high altitude thunderstorm.

After a years-long search for the plane's black boxes, investigators concluded that speed sensors on the plane failed and gave false readings.

The pilots then failed to follow correct procedure and lost control of the aircraft, which plunged 38,000ft (11,580 m) into the ocean. The captain was on a break when problems began and investigators concluded that the co-pilots did not have the training to deal with malfunctioning equipment.

Judges had initially charged both the airline and manufacturer with manslaughter, but the prosecutor then recommended that only Air France should go on trial. In September 2019 charges against both were dropped, because there were not enough grounds to prosecute.

That decision was challenged, and in May last year the Paris appeals court decided that both Air France and Airbus should face trial.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63209880