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On 16 September 2007, a plane from the Thai low-cost airline One-Two-Go from Bangkok crashed during its landing in the wind and rain in Phuket, killing 90 people, including 9 French nationals. Twelve years later, the former director of this company was convicted on Tuesday, September 3 by French justice of aggravated involuntary homicides and aggravated wounds. The Paris Criminal Court sentenced him in his absence to 4 years in prison, a fine of 75,000 euros and upheld the international arrest warrant against him.
The judgment was expected because it was an unprecedented trial: indeed, the director, his company, but also the scene of the tragedy, were all Thais. The only link with the Hexagon and its justice was the French nationality of several passengers.
Beyond the victims, " this trial is important for the world of aeronautics, " said the prosecutor last June. " It shows that there must be no impunity, beyond borders and assemblages of companies, " he insisted. He had required 4 years in prison and 75,000 euros fine against the boss of One-Two-Go, who never responded to the summons of the judges.
Requisitions followed by the court. For if errors had been made by the pilots on the day of the tragedy, the judges considered that the crew could not react correctly to the bad weather with regard to his state of fatigue and stress.
The overtaking of the working time of the pilots " was obviously something of common, of known or even imposed by the officials, in the forefront of which the defendant, " said the magistrates. Before concluding: " the economic imperative has clearly outweighed that of security ."
The brother of a French victim welcomed this decision which sends " a serious warning to companies that have dubious practices even if they do not serve France ".