The worst crash involving an Airbus A330 was Air France Flight 447 on June 1, 2009. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-203, was flying from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris, France, when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

Key Details:

• Fatalities: All 228 passengers and crew on board were killed, making it the deadliest accident involving an Airbus A330.

• Cause:

  • The crash resulted from a combination of factors, including icing of the pitot tubes (airspeed sensors), which caused incorrect airspeed readings.

  • The pilots became disoriented, leading to a loss of control.

  • The plane entered an aerodynamic stall from which it did not recover.

Investigation Findings:

• The pitot tubes failed due to ice crystals at high altitude.

• This caused the autopilot to disconnect, leaving the crew to manually handle the situation.

• The pilots' reactions, influenced by confusion and a lack of situational awareness, exacerbated the issue.

Impact:

Air France Flight 447 led to significant changes in:

• Pilot training, especially in handling high-altitude stalls.

• Improved pitot tube designs to prevent icing.

• Enhanced flight data and cockpit voice recorder requirements for underwater retrieval.

This crash remains a key case study in aviation safety and human factors.