The airline explains that it was impossible to carry out the repair in Mexico, hence this return to Paris even though the plane had already crossed a good part of the Atlantic.
The trip was a bit long for the 260 passengers of an Air France Airbus A350-900 connecting Paris to Mexico this Wednesday, May 8.
While the plane had crossed a good part of the North Atlantic and was off the coast of Canada after 4.5 hours of flight, a “technical incident” forced the crew to turn around. Direction Paris for a journey which ultimately lasted more than 11 hours.
Questioned by BFM Business, Air France explains that this decision was taken “as a precautionary measure and in accordance with procedures, following a technical problem” which was not specified.
The operator adds that it was impossible to repair in Mexico, hence the choice to return to the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle base.
Passengers supported in Paris
“The aircraft landed safely at 1:50 a.m. local time on May 9,” the company continues.
“As the flight was canceled, the Air France teams present last night in Paris Charles de Gaulle welcomed the passengers in order to assist them, find them accommodation and a solution to transfer them to another flight as soon as possible,” explains Air France, which said he regretted “the inconvenience linked to this situation”.
At the end of April, following the appearance of a “hot smell” in the cabin of an Air France Boeing 777-200ER flying from Osaka to Paris, the aircraft had to be diverted and had to land at the airport. from Baku to Azerbaijan.
Due to lack of visas, the 280 passengers found themselves stranded in the transit zone and had to sleep there before being able to board a rescue plane more than 24 hours later. A very difficult situation denounced by passengers who then criticized the lack of support from the company.
Olivier Chicheportiche Journalist BFM Business
