Air France Flight 447

Air France Flight 447 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris, France, that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on 1 June 2009, killing all 228 people on board.

Air France Flight 447 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris, France, that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on 1 June 2009, killing all 228 people on board. Investigators concluded that iced-over pitot probes, loss of reliable airspeed data, and pilot response led to an unrecoverable stall.

Flight and crash

Air France Flight 447 was a regular international service from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. It disappeared over the Atlantic on 1 June 2009 and crashed after the crew lost control of the Airbus A330.

Investigation and causes

The investigation focused on pitot probe icing, unreliable airspeed readings, autopilot disengagement, and the crew’s handling of the developing stall. Sources describe the chain of events as involving both technical and human factors.

Casualties and impact

All 228 people on board were killed. The accident remains the deadliest in Air France’s history and the deadliest involving the Airbus A330.

Legal proceedings

French legal proceedings later addressed potential corporate responsibility for the disaster. In 2026, Air France and Airbus were convicted of manslaughter by a Paris appeals court, after earlier litigation had produced different outcomes.