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Air Algérie marketed flight AH5017, which Swiftair operated. The September 28, 2026 judgment found Swiftair guilty of involuntary manslaughter. These photographs document the courthouse and conversations around the hearing.
Read about the Swiftair judgmentTwo video versions for the press
Sébastien Busy, lawyer for victims’ families and their associations, reacts to the Swiftair judgment. The original audio is French; subtitles are available in French or English. Duration: 1 min 18.1 s.
French subtitles
Original French audio · 1920 × 1080 · 1:18,1
English subtitles
Original French audio · 1920 × 1080 · 1:18,1
Watch the video and read its transcriptTranscript
French and English transcripts of the statement. The video retains the original French audio.
Français
Nous venons donc d'avoir la décision rendue par le tribunal correctionnel de Paris dans le procès de la société Swiftair, qui opérait un vol pour la compagnie Air Algérie entre le Burkina Faso et Alger.
Cette société espagnole, Swiftair, est déclarée coupable de l'infraction d'homicide involontaire. Le tribunal a estimé que la société avait commis plusieurs fautes dans la formation et le suivi de la formation de ses pilotes, qui n'a pas permis à ces derniers de pouvoir identifier la situation de décrochage, et qui n'a accompli aucun des gestes nécessaires à la récupération de l'appareil.
Le tribunal a aussi estimé que ces fautes étaient en lien certain avec la survenance de cet accident. C'est la raison pour laquelle elle déclare la société Swiftair coupable du délit d'homicide involontaire, condamne la société à 225 000 euros d'amende, qui est le maximum prévu par la loi pénale française.
Elle condamne aussi Swiftair à rembourser l'institution judiciaire française de l'ensemble des frais qu'elle a exposés. Et elle statue sur des dommages et intérêts concernant notamment les associations de familles de victimes.
C'est une décision qui est satisfaisante et qui constitue évidemment, pour les familles de victimes, un grand soulagement : que d'avoir le nom d'une personne responsable dans ce drame qui a endeuillé tant de pays et tant de nationalités.
English
We have just received the decision handed down by the Paris Criminal Court in the trial of the company Swiftair, which operated a flight for Air Algérie between Burkina Faso and Algiers.
The Spanish company Swiftair has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The court held that the company had committed several faults in the training and monitoring of its pilots' training, which did not enable them to identify the stall situation, and that no necessary action was taken to recover the aircraft.
The court also held that these faults were directly linked to the occurrence of the accident. For that reason, it found Swiftair guilty of involuntary manslaughter and fined the company €225,000, which is the maximum provided for under French criminal law.
It also ordered Swiftair to reimburse the French justice system for all the costs it incurred. It ruled on damages concerning, in particular, victims' family associations.
This is a satisfactory decision and obviously represents, for the victims' families, a great relief: to have a responsible party identified in this tragedy, which left so many countries and nationalities in mourning.
30 photographs at the Paris courthouse
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026. AH5017 Mémorial / ah5017.com.

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Facade of the Paris courthouse
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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Towers and glass facade of the Paris courthouse
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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Close view of the Paris courthouse
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“116 victims” T-shirt outside the Paris courthouse
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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Victims’ names on a T-shirt outside the courthouse
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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Tribute to the 116 victims at the courthouse entrance
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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“Tribunal de Paris” sign at the entrance
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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Paris courthouse entrance and visitors
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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Glass atrium of the Paris courthouse
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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Stairs and walkways inside the Paris courthouse
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Display identifying courtroom 2.02
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Television crew near the courtroom
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Lawyer in court robes speaking with attendees
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Conversation with a lawyer near the courtroom
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Lawyer, attendees and television microphone
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Lawyer in court robes surrounded by attendees in the corridor
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Conversation with a lawyer near courtroom 2.02
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People and filming equipment in the corridor
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Camera and microphone facing a lawyer in court robes
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Filmed interview with a lawyer inside the courthouse
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Television crew and seated lawyer in the corridor
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Lawyer seated beside a person using a laptop
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Filming equipment near a seated lawyer
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Lawyer speaking to a reporter holding a microphone
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Television interview in the courthouse corridor
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Person working on a laptop near courtroom 2.02
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Group talking near the courtroom
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Conversation in the corridor outside the courtroom
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Exterior view of the Paris courthouse towers
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Glass facade and forecourt of the Paris courthouse
Swiftair judgment, Air Algérie flight AH5017, September 28, 2026.
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