In the last few moments, an Air France Boeing 777 flying from Paris CDG to Havana has declared an emergency and is turning back to the French capital.
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AF816 is being operated by F-GSPQ, one of the airline’s Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
Updates: Air France 777 Paris-Havana Declares Emergency…
This is a developing story. Updates below.
UPDATE #1 @ 1643 UK time – Air France flight AF816 to Havana is now tracking in the direction of the Channel Islands as it makes its emergency return back to Paris.
UPDATE #2 @ 1644 UK time – As per data from Planespotters, F-GSPQ is a 22.7 year old airframe which was delivered to the airline back in March 2001.
UPDATE #3 @ 1645 UK time – At this stage, it is unclear what the nature of the emergency is, but is clearly serious enough to force a u-turn back to the French capital.
UPDATE #4 @ 1648 UK time – Depressurisation can be ruled out as the aircraft hasn’t made a sharp descent. Either a medical or some other form of technical problem onboard the Air France flight originally bound for Havana from Paris.
UPDATE #5 @ 1650 UK time – AF816 is approaching the Guernsey/Jersey area. Unclear whether the aircraft will have to hold to burn fuel at this present moment.
UPDATE #6 @ 1657 UK time – AF816 entering France, as it gets closer to Paris CDG, where it originally came from.
UPDATE #7 @ 1700 UK time – AF816 is making good ground to get back to the French capital, cruising at around 514kts ground speed.
UPDATE #8 @ 1704 UK time – AF816 has descended down to FL280 as the aircraft prepares for it’s emergency landing.
UPDATE #9 @ 1706 UK time – AF816 is continuing its descent out of FL250. Still no indication into the cause of the emergency broadcast.
UPDATE #10 @ 1709 UK time – The Air France website shows that the aircraft is going to attempt another departure at 1920 local time, so it could be a medical potentially if there is nothing wrong with the aircraft.
UPDATE #11 @ 1714 UK time – AF816 is passing through FL130 as the aircraft gets closer to Paris CDG. Still unclear why it hasn’t continued on to Havana as of yet.
UPDATE #12 @ 1719 UK time – @FlightEmergency confirming that there is a medical emergency onboard AF816 from Paris to Havana, hence the return.
UPDATE #13 @ 1725 UK time – AF816 is on the base leg into CDG, landing imminent.
UPDATE #14 @ 1726 UK time – AF816 is now on final approach into CDG.
UPDATE #15 @ 1733 UK time – TOUCHDOWN! Air France flight AF816, originally bound for Havana, appears to have landed successfully into Paris CDG following a medical emergency call.
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