Air France 777 Paris-Havana Declares Emergency

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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