Created Wednesday, Mar 3rd 2021 16:25Z, last updated Wednesday, Mar 3rd 2021 16:25Z
An Air Tahiti Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration F-ORVR performing flight
VT-949 from Papeete to Hao (French Polynesia) with 47 people on board, was enroute at FL170 about 250nm east of Papeete at about the half way point between Papeete and Hao, when the crew descended the aircraft to FL100 due to a technical problem and returned to Papeete where the aircraft landed safely about 2:10 hours after departure.
The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Papeete almost 3 days after landing.
A replacement ATR-42-600 registration F-ORVC reached Hao Island with a delay of 31 hours.
The aircraft was carrying a group of college students back home to Hao. Their principal reported the crew opted to return to Papeete to have the aircraft repaired after it was discovered one of the wheels had slightly deviated from its axis, which would have made the landing dangerous.
