Airbus faces charges over 2009 Rio-Paris crash

[YosemiteSam]

PARIS -- A French judge filed preliminary manslaughter charges Thursday against Airbus over the 2009 crash of an Air France jet - opening a rare criminal investigation against a corporate powerhouse.

The order from Judge Sylvie Zimmerman targeting the European planemaker centers on the June 2009 crash into the Atlantic of an Airbus A330 bound for Paris from Rio de Janeiro, killing all 228 people on board.

Airbus chief Thomas Enders, speaking to reporters afterward, said the company disagreed with the judge's "premature" decision - especially in light of the still-unsolved mystery about the crash.

The preliminary charges, which allow for further investigation, came after Airbus lawyers met with the judge on Thursday. Enders said Airbus will continue to cooperate with the probe.

Charges against Airbus, the world's top planemaker by orders in 2010 and a rival of Chicago-based Boeing Co., are unusual but not unprecedented. Airbus employees have been charged in France in previous crashes.

Complete Story

 

[big dog cowboy]

Shut'em down!!!!!!!!!!!

:chop:

 

[YosemiteSam]

Shut'em down!!!!!!!!!!!

:chop:

I'm always weary when I board an Airbus. Airbus planes are completely electronic when it comes to operating control surfaces, Boeing on the other hand does has electronics to control actuators too, but it also still employs the cable and hydraulics allowing the pilot to over-ride the electronics if they aren't operating properly.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'm always weary when I board an Airbus.

I won't. No one should.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Boeing sucks :