A Paris appeals court found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter Monday in connection with the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447 that killed all 228 people aboard.

The Air France flight disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009, while en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. The Airbus A330 aircraft crashed into the ocean after encountering severe weather conditions.

The court's decision marks a significant legal conclusion to a case that has spanned more than a decade. Both companies had previously faced legal proceedings related to the disaster, which became one of the deadliest accidents in Air France's history.

The crash prompted extensive investigations into aviation safety protocols and aircraft design. Recovery of the aircraft's black boxes took nearly two years, with wreckage located on the ocean floor in 2011.

The corporate manslaughter convictions represent a rare instance of major aerospace companies being held criminally liable for an aviation disaster. The ruling could have implications for how corporate responsibility is assessed in future aviation accidents.