A Paris court has fined Spanish airline Swiftair €225,000 for corporate manslaughter in connection with the 2014 Air Algerie disaster that killed 116 people in Mali.
The ruling follows investigations into the crash of an Air Algerie aircraft that occurred in 2014 over Mali, a tragedy that claimed the lives of all passengers and crew on board. Swiftair, which operated the flight, was found to have breached safety regulations that led to the fatal accident.
The fine reflects the court’s determination that Swiftair’s corporate negligence contributed to the loss of life. Corporate manslaughter charges in France carry penalties that can include fines, imprisonment for senior executives and, in this case, a monetary penalty for the airline itself.
Swiftair is a Spanish charter carrier that has operated flights for various airlines across Europe and Africa. The 2014 incident remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the region.
The judgment underscores the legal responsibility airlines bear for safety compliance, and it may prompt further scrutiny of operational practices in the industry.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
