Air Moorea crash goes to court

6:50 am on 9 October 2018
Flowers are left at Air Moorea crash site

Flowers are left at Air Moorea crash site Photo: AFP

The trial opens in French Polynesia today of seven people accused of involuntary homicide over the Air Moorea crash of 2007.

20 people died when the Twin Otter fell into the sea shortly after taking off for Tahiti.

Six former employees of Air Moorea, the airline itself and the former head of French Polynesia's civil aviation administration are to stand trial in a case lasting three weeks.

Dozens of experts will be called, there are 137 civil parties and 38 people will come from France.

The investigation showed steering cables tore in several places in the front section of the aircraft, which is alleged to have been linked to major dysfunctional procedures at the airline.

A month ago French Polynesia's court of appeal ruled that $US3.3 million had to be paid in compensation to the families of the victims

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