An Air France flight from Paris to Barcelona made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff due to a cabin pressure issue on Friday (January 3). The Airbus A318, operating as Flight AF1448, experienced a significant drop in pressure 17 minutes into the flight, prompting the deployment of oxygen masks.
The crew declared an emergency, and the pilot returned the jet to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, where it landed safely at approximately 10:12 p.m. local time. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew, and all were rebooked on alternative flights to their destinations. Air France canceled both the outbound and return flights to conduct technical inspections of the aircraft.
An Air France spokesperson stated that the oxygen masks were deployed as a precaution since the automatic mask drop altitude had not been reached. The airline emphasized that safety is their top priority and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the cabin pressure malfunction. Air France crews are trained to handle such situations according to the manufacturer's procedures.