Continental Airlines Faces Manslaughter Charges

Businesses in the United States rarely face criminal charges over negligent deaths or injuries caused by their actions or products. The cases are brought as civil actions.

Apparently, in France, it is not uncommon for criminal charges to be filed against companies. Such is the case with Continental Airlines. A French prosecutor is asking a French court to impose manslaughter charges against Continental and four other individuals as reported by the Times UK today. The charges stem from allegations that, in 2000, Continental employees fitted an aluminum metal strip to a Continental jet that was not designed to be installed in that fashion or on that plane. The strip fell off. Subsequently, an Air France Concorde hit the strip, puncturing a tire and causing a crash and the deaths of 113 people.