A trial for a pilot involved in a 2022 plane crash in the Ubaye region of France began on September 24, 2026. The accident occurred on December 28, 2022, when a small aircraft carrying four people crashed near the Barcelonnette-Saint-Pons airport in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region. The co-pilot, who was the pilot’s girlfriend, died immediately, while the pilot and a couple who were passengers sustained severe injuries. The pilot, a 58-year-old commercial engineer, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and causing serious injuries. During the trial, the pilot admitted that he took a steeper approach than recommended, which contributed to the crash. He also acknowledged that he did not verify the aircraft’s weight before takeoff, a procedure that is required for safe flight. The couple who survived the crash testified that they did not provide their weights, and the pilot did not ask for them. Instead, he made an estimate with a margin of safety, though this approach was not in line with standard aviation procedures. The pilot’s attorney, Maître Merouane Brahimi, argued that the pilot was not solely responsible for the crash. He compared the pilot’s actions to risks a driver might take when operating a car, suggesting that not all procedural errors lead to catastrophic outcomes. He claimed the pilot did not follow proper procedures, such as verifying the aircraft’s weight and adhering to recommended approach angles. However, the prosecution has emphasized that these procedures are critical for flight safety and must be strictly followed. The couple who survived the crash described the moments before the crash as terrifying. They testified that they realized the plane was going to crash during landing because it was moving too fast, too far, and with an excessive slope. They described the crash as a traumatic event that left lasting physical and emotional scars. Barbara, one of the survivors, stated that recognizing herself as a victim would be the beginning of the healing process. She described the physical toll of the crash, including the amputation of her fingers and the need for facial grafts. The prosecutor, Antoine Pesme from Digne-les-Bains, requested a five-year prison sentence for the pilot, with four years of the sentence being suspended. The trial continues as the court weighs the evidence and determines the appropriate legal consequences for the pilot’s actions.