France, May 21 -- The case has once again drawn attention to one of aviation's most haunting tragedies, while reopening painful questions for families who have spent more than a decade seeking accountability. In 2023, both Air France and Airbus were acquitted of involuntary manslaughter after a court ruled that, although mistakes had been made, there was insufficient proof that they directly caused the crash.

If the companies are convicted in the appeal ruling, each could face fines of up to €225,000, alongside potentially serious reputational consequences.

Flight AF447 departed Rio de Janeiro for Paris on 1 June 2009, carrying 216 passengers and 12 crew aboard an Airbus A330. While crossing the Atlantic during stormy weather, the...