flight.
Video clips reveal oxygen masks being released as an Airbus A318 experienced a technical problem just after departure from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris around 9:30 pm on Friday.
Encountered a cabin depressurization incident 17 minutes after takeoff.
The crew declared an emergency situation around 9:45pm, and the pilot had to divert the plane back to Paris for an emergency landing, rapidly bringing the aircraft down to a secure altitude of 8,000 feet.
The 18-year-old aircraft, registered F-GUGR, landed securely at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 10.12pm.
No reported casualties occurred among the crew members or passengers.
Flights AF1448 and AF1449 were cancelled so that technical checks could be conducted on the plane.
Teams at the airports were affected and had to take alternative flights to their destinations.
The airline apologized for the trouble it caused.
Air France officials stated: “We can confirm that the crew of flight AF1448 on January 3rd, 2005, operating an Airbus 318 from Paris CDG to Barcelona BCN, turned back to its base after 17 minutes in the air due to a malfunctioning cabin pressure.
The Air France flight crews undergo continuous training to handle scenarios aligned with the specific procedures outlined by the aircraft’s manufacturer.
Other sources said the oxygen masks were dropped manually by flight attendants due to ‘the automatic mask drop altitude not having been reached’.
The airline stated: “Air France regrets the disruption caused by this situation and reinstates that the safety of its customers and crew is its top priority.”
An inquiry into the cause of the uncontrolled depressurization issue is currently in progress.
