India, May 21 -- After a 17-year-long legal battle, Airbus and Air France have been found guilty of "corporate manslaughter" for a 2009 plane crash, which killed 228 people.

Thursday's verdict by the Paris Appeals court comes three years after a lower court had acquitted the French companies, who have continued to deny the charges against them.

The Paris court further ordered both companies to pay the maximum fine of €225,000, each, adding that Air France and Airbus were "solely and entirely responsible" for the horrific plane crash.

While the conviction comes as a cathartic moment for relatives of the victims of the plane crash, further appeals to France's highest court from the companies may be filed, dragging out the process f...