Capetonian
Whatever the findings are, the underlying cause will be the poor and distant management at Air France and the culture of arrogance and buck-passing which pervades French companies.
In my experience, this statement can be applied to a considerable number of Western countries. After working in commerce for 35 years, across a very wide range of different types of company and internationally, the move towards 'hand-off' management is nearly complete. In large companies it is the standard.
As to 'B' following 'AB' down the same route of production materials and processes (not to mention flight deck concepts) - it has been obvious for many years that that is exactly what they are doing. Of itself, that is neither bad nor good.
It is the management of the carrier that set the mood, style, practice, tolerances, acceptable practice and the 'never-under-any-circumatances'. There will be failures down the line but the buck
USED to stop with the Managing Director and the Board. In the era of the CEO, the buck gets killed long before it reaches his doormat.