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6 arrested in Air France union violence that left executives shirtless

The Associated Press

October 12, 2015 at 12:48PM

Air France director of Human Ressources, Xavier Broseta, right, and Air France assistant director long-haul flight, Pierre Plissonnier, center, are protected by a police officer as they flee the company headquarters at Roissy Airport, north of Paris, after scuffles with union activist, Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. Union activists protesting proposed layoffs at Air France stormed the headquarters during a meeting about the job cuts, zeroing in on two managers who had their shirts torn from their bodies, scaled a fence and fled under police protection. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

PARIS — French prosecutors say six people have been arrested in connection with an Air France union meeting brawl that left two executives shirtless.

During a meeting a week ago about fiercely contested job cuts at the money-losing airline, union activists assaulted the managers, including the airline's head of human resources, ripping their shirts from their bodies and prompting them to flee over a fence.

The Bobigny prosecutor's office confirmed that five people were arrested early Monday, saying the allegations of aggravated assault carried a maximum five years in prison. A sixth was detained later in the day.

Air France blames the violence on "isolated individuals" and negotiations have resumed. It is proposing a sweeping plan that involves 2,900 more job losses and longer hours.