Airbus faces manslaughter probe over crash

[The Northerner]

AIRBUS is to face a criminal probe for alleged manslaughter in connection with the 2009 crash of a plane en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris with the loss of 228 lives, the manufacturer said today.

The move came after investigating magistrate Sylvie Zimmerman summoned Airbus and Air France to appear in court to be possibly "mise en examen", a French legal term meaning there is a case to be answered in court.

"I can confirm that the investigative magistrates have put Airbus 'en examen'," the European plane manufacturer's boss, Thomas Enders, said following the court hearing.

The crash has been partly blamed on malfunctioning speed sensors used by Airbus, with Air France accused of not responding quickly enough to reports that they might be faulty.

Air France is to appear in court tomorrow.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/airbus-faces-manslaughter-probe-over-crash/story-e6frfku0-1226023658167#ixzz1GshdwHGa