Hi,
The answer, obvious to anyone who knows anything about these matters, is that the responsibility did and does indeed lie with the airline, under international agreement (ICAO again), and Air France (or, rather, their insurers) has already paid out compensation commensurate with that responsibility, 10 years ago
I do not think this is an end in itself or in other words it prevents an individual (family passenger or crew member) to initiate a lawsuit against Air France for additional damages compensation or seek other convictions
Of course if a subrogation was signed .. (renunciation of right to sue in court after receiving compensation) the case is closed.
Many time those compensations are used as a gag.