Well, you can bankrupt them. But the fines they would’ve been subjected to don’t seem that high. I guess it would make going after them in civil court easier for those who lost a loved one. Assuming that’s how the court system works in France.
There was a time when the favorite venue to bring lawsuits against airlines was Chicago. If any connection could be established that’s were the plaintiffs would turn.
Unless the airline or manufacturer were grossly negligent, I don’t see how this can be blamed on them. It is my understanding that in the U.S. a company is responsible for accidents caused by their employees, but not criminally responsible unless the officers acted criminally. For instance by hiring unqualified flight crews to save a few dollars, and falsifying the employment records.