A combination of technical failure and human error led to the crash of an Air France flight in June 2009, according to the final report on the disaster.

The jet disappeared in a storm while flying to Paris from Rio de Janeiro, claiming 228 lives.

There were faults with the Airbus 330′s air-speed sensors which confused the pilots, says the French aviation authority, also pointing to inappropriate action by them.

The biggest mistake when spotting technical failure was pointing the nose of the aircraft upwards, instead of down.

«The crew was in a state of almost total loss of control of the situation,» the reports says.

However, it is also added that if the aviation authority thought that the accident was only down to the crew, it would not have made recommendations about the systems and the training.

«This accident could no doubt have happened to other crews,» it is stressed in the report.

In response, Airbus said in a statement that it would «take all measures to contribute to this collective effort towards optimising air safety».

Whereas, Air France defended its pilots, saying they had responded to confused and conflicting information.

Both Air France and Airbus are under investigation for alleged manslaughter, reports BBC.

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