When it comes to decriminalization of aviation accidents, the world seems to take one step forward and two back.

On one hand, a French appellate court recently overturned the manslaughter verdict against Continental Airlines resulting from a crash more than a decade ago. The initial ruling held Continental liable for the July 2000 accident on the grounds that maintenance errors caused a 16-inch piece of titanium to fall from one of the airlines DC-10s during its takeoff roll from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. [Read more…]