Airbus and Air France awaiting verdict over 2009 Rio-Paris plane crash

A French court is due to rule on whether Airbus and Air France are guilty of manslaughter over the 2009 crash of Flight 447 en route from Rio to Paris, which killed 228 people and led to lasting changes in aircraft safety measures (Eraldo Peres/AP)

A French court is due to rule on Monday whether Airbus and Air France are guilty of manslaughter over the 2009 crash of Flight 447 en route from Rio to Paris, which killed 228 people and led to lasting changes in aircraft safety measures.

Acquittal is likely, in what would be a devastating defeat for victims’ families who fought for 13 years to see the case reach court.