Agnostique, thank you for the explanation of the French system and what it is trying to accomplish here.
However, does this not amount to extra-territorial application of French law?
Correct me if I am wrong but it was a non-French company, under a non-French operating certificate, not in French territory or possessions, not operating to/from France, and the crew were non-French citizens. How can the company or crew be expected to be subjected to French law?
(I mention the crew simply to look for possible connections to France. I realize it is only the company being investigated here)
Conceivably the company should be held responsible here. If (and this is hypothetical) they did not adequately maintain the aircraft, train the crew, or set up sensible SOPs, etc, they should be blamed and/or held liable in some sense. But how can French law be used?