Created Saturday, Sep 18th 2021 09:13Z, last updated Saturday, Sep 18th 2021 19:01Z
An Air France Boeing 777-300, registration F-GSQD performing flight
AF-393 from Beijing (China) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was in the initial climb out of Beijing's runway 36L when the crew stopped the climb at 3000 feet after a loud bang had occurred. The aircraft returned to Beijing for a safe landing on runway 01 about 14 minutes after departure.
Passengers reported there had been the sound of an explosion followed by black smoke in the cabin, passengers in the aft cabin rushed forward. The back of the cabin was brightly illuminated, flight attendants rushed to the aft cabin with fire extinguishers, the seat cushions were removed from passenger seat row 52, which appeared to show heat damage.
Another passenger reported there had been strange noises throughout the takeoff, shortly after becoming airborne a bang occurred at seat row 52 and a burning smell developed in the cabin. The bright light seen in the back of the cabin were the lights of the aft galley, there had been no fire and no visible smoke. Passengers were quickly moved forward. Shortly afterwards there was a complete power failure in the cabin, cabin lights came on again a short time later. Flight attendants were rushing backwards with fire extinguishers and removed the seat cushions and found some kind of debris splashing out. According to discussions between flight attendants and surrounding passengers it appeared that an air conditioning duct may have ruptured. The cabin temperatures began to rise while the strong burning smell intensified until landing.
The airline reported a technical incident prompted the return to Beijing.
Later the day the airline reported: "A failure of a pneumatic system on the aircraft caused an overpressure in one of the air conditioning pipes, which spread residue and dust in the cabin." A replacement aircraft is being dispatched to Beijing.
Photos of several passengers from the cabin:
