Relatives of people killed in the 2014 Air Algérie disaster have expressed relief after a Paris court convicted Spanish airline Swiftair of involuntary manslaughter.
The carrier was ordered to pay €225,000, the highest available fine, following the crash of flight AH5017, which claimed 116 lives.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-83, operated by Swiftair and leased to Air Algérie, went down in northern Mali on 24 July 2014 while travelling from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso to Algiers.
Among those who died were 54 French nationals, 23 Burkinabè citizens, Lebanese and Algerian passengers, and six Spanish crew members.
French investigators determined that the aircraft’s anti-icing equipment had not been switched on while the plane encountered severe weather.
Ice subsequently accumulated on pressure sensors, triggering an automatic reduction in engine power before the aircraft crashed.
The court concluded that shortcomings in Swiftair’s training had contributed to the accident.
Sandrine Tricot, whose husband Frédéric died in the tragedy, said the verdict brought relief to families who had waited thousands of days for accountability.
She said the financial penalty was not their primary concern, adding that no compensation could restore the lives lost.
Nathalie Police, who lost her father Didier and 18-year-old half-brother Nicolas, also welcomed the decision after attending the entire four-week hearing.
Swiftair’s lawyers disputed the French investigation, calling it flawed.
Spanish prosecutors had previously ended their own inquiry without pursuing charges.
The trial began in Paris in March, more than 12 years after the tragedy.
Sébastien Busy, who represented most of the victims, described the judgment as a relief.
He said the airline would also be responsible for legal expenses, which could exceed the imposed fine.
Swiftair has 10 days to challenge the ruling.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong