A French appeals court convicted Air France and Airbus of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday over the 2009 crash of a Rio-Paris flight that killed 228 people, the worst disaster in France's aviation history.
The Paris Court of Appeal ruling was a dramatic reversal of a lower court decision.
The appeal court said that the French flag carrier and Europe's leading aerospace manufacturer were "solely and entirely responsible for the crash of flight AF447", ordering each to pay €225,000, the maximum fine for corporate manslaughter.
While the penalties are symbolic, the ruling is seen as significant reputational damage for both companies.
Air France and Airbus have consistently denied any criminal liability, blaming pilot error.
