The Swiftair involuntary manslaughter trial was held before the Paris Criminal Court in March 2026, nearly twelve years after the crash of flight AH5017 on 24 July 2014. On 28 September 2026, the court found Swiftair guilty and imposed a €225,000 fine. [RFI, France 24, AFP / Boursorama (404/410 · 2026-10-12), Le Parisien]
Investigation and expert hearings (Days 1–6, 9–19 March)
During the first two weeks, the court heard gendarmes, court-appointed experts and civil-party witnesses. The hearings examined the probable icing of engine pressure sensors located on the engine nose cones, the stall sequence, crew training and the possible link between the alleged failings and the accident. [Le Parisien, La Dépêche du Midi, AFP / Boursorama (404/410 · 2026-10-12)]
Family testimonies (Day 7, 20 March)
On Friday 20 March, families of the 116 victims delivered deeply moving testimonies with remarkable dignity. Hélène, sister of Katell (25), stated that "pain, incomprehension, anger and rage remain intact." Sandrine Tricot, president of the AH5017-Ensemble association, declared: "You amputated me of my other half." Julien, 31, brother of Jennifer, said: "Twelve years. To wait for what? Condolences from the vice-president of the company. It is cruelly lacking in humanity." [France 3 Normandie, France 24 / AFP, La Nouvelle République, TV5Monde / AFP]
Swiftair expert and Llorens intervention (Day 8, 23 March)
On 23 March, the expert appointed by Swiftair, Bertrand Dubucq (AIRDJUSTING), questioned the aircraft itself and Boeing while downplaying the training issue. He did not consider pilot training to be linked to the accident. The Presiding Judge then unexpectedly called Swiftair vice-president Fernando Llorens to the stand. Asked about the lack of condolences denounced by the civil parties, Mr. Llorens shifted responsibility to Air Algérie and the commercial contract between the two companies. [Orange Actu / AFP]
Examination of the Swiftair representative (24 March)
On 24 March, Fernando Llorens maintained at the stand that the pilots had "adequate training" and rejected criminal negligence. The adequacy of crew training remained one of the issues debated before the court. [Orange Actu / AFP, Boursorama / AFP (404/410 · 2026-10-12)]
Prosecution and civil parties' pleadings (Day 9, 25 March)
On 25 March, Maître PETIT (lawyer for the ALTER pilots' union) and Maître BUSY pleaded for the civil parties, followed by the Public Prosecutor's closing arguments. The Prosecutor requested a €225,000 fine, presented as the maximum penalty available in these proceedings. [TV5MONDE / AFP]
Defence pleadings
The defence pleaded for Swiftair’s acquittal. After the closing arguments, the court took the case under deliberation and announced that judgment would be delivered on 28 September 2026. [RFI]
