Swiftair trial: Verdict expected for 2014 Air Algérie crash

A verdict is expected on September 28, 2026, from the Paris Criminal Court regarding the 2014 crash of Air Algérie flight AH5017. The Spanish charter company Swiftair is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter following the accident that killed all 116 people on board.

The flight, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 traveling from Ouagadougou to Algiers, crashed in a desert region near Gossi in northern Mali on July 24, 2014. Technical investigations by the Bureau d’enquêtes et d’analyses (BEA) indicated that icing of the Pitot speed sensors during a thunderstorm led to an undetected loss of engine power and subsequent loss of control.

During the trial held in March 2026, prosecutors highlighted insufficient training for the seasonal crew members provided by Swiftair. The public prosecutor has requested a maximum fine of 225,000 euros against the company, while defense lawyers have requested an acquittal. The victims included citizens from France, Burkina Faso, and Mali.