Airbus and Air France face manslaughter trial over 2009 Rio-Paris crash

Airbus and Air France have gone on trial on manslaughter charges over the crash of a Rio-Paris flight in 2009 (Michel Euler/AP)

Airbus and Air France went on trial on manslaughter charges on Monday over the crash of a Rio de Janeiro to Paris flight in 2009 which plunged into the Atlantic amid thunderstorms, killing all 228 people on board and leading to changes in air safety regulations.

The worst plane crash in Air France history killed people of 33 nationalities, and families from around the world are among the plaintiffs in the case. They fought for more than a decade to see the case come to trial.