An Air France plane makes an emergency landing in Tahiti because of a burning smell felt in the cabin

Le départ du feu a très vite été identifié en vol. MAXPPP – Jean-Luc Flémal

An Air France Airbus plane was forced to make an emergency landing after a burning smell filled the cabin on Monday, August 5, 2024.

On Monday, August 5, 2024, an Air France Airbus A350 was forced to make an emergency landing in Tahiti after a fire procedure was triggered.

A burning smell

A burning smell filled the cabin shortly after takeoff, reports local media Radio 1. The pilot and crew of the aircraft initiated a safety procedure and therefore an emergency landing. The start of the fire was quickly identified in flight.

The origin of the smell? An overheated food warming trolley. On the ground, a crisis unit composed of rescue services, firefighters, civil security and SAMU was waiting for the aircraft. The incident was finally resolved in flight. The disembarked passengers were accommodated at the company's expense in two hotels in Faa'a, while waiting for their flight to be rescheduled.