Ouagadougou-Algiers flight crash: Swiftair airline fined 225,000 euros

On September 28, 2026, the Paris Criminal Court imposed the maximum fine of 225,000 euros on the Spanish airline Swiftair for involuntary manslaughter. According to France 24, the French justice system ruled that deficiencies in the crew's training and preparation directly contributed to the crash of flight AH5017, which occurred on July 24, 2014, in northern Mali.

The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 owned by Swiftair and leased to Air Algérie along with its crew, was flying between Ouagadougou and Algiers. The accident left no survivors among the 116 people on board, including 54 French citizens, 23 Burkinabe, as well as Lebanese, Algerians, and six Spanish crew members.

The investigation established that during a night flight through a stormy area, the failure to activate the anti-icing system caused ice crystals to form on the pressure sensors. This malfunction led to the automatic slowing of the engines. Without an appropriate reaction from the pilots, the plane eventually stalled. The captain had not completed the required training on icing, and the crew was returning from a period of prolonged inactivity.

During the trial held in March, the prosecution had requested this maximum fine. The company's defense challenged the conclusions of the French experts and pointed out that the Spanish justice system had previously dismissed the case. The verdict delivered in France brings to a close a judicial process spanning more than twelve years.

Our perspective

This judgment highlights the crucial responsibility of international carriers operating on the African continent. The safety of passengers and respect for the memory of the 116 victims, including many African citizens, require strict standards. The dignity of the families depends on shedding full light on the technical and human failures in order to prevent such tragedies in the future.