An Air France flight bound for South America was forced to make an emergency diversion to Portugal on Friday morning after declaring an in-flight emergency over the Atlantic Ocean.
PORTO, Portugal — Air France flight AF460, operated by an Airbus A350-900 (registration F-HUVG), departed Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) at 10:31 CET for a scheduled 12-hour journey to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
The aircraft was cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370) off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula when the flight crew transmitted a Squawk 7700—the international radio code for a general emergency. The declaration occurred approximately two hours into the flight as the aircraft was beginning its oceanic crossing.
Diversion to Porto
Immediately following the emergency signal, the pilots initiated a descent and performed a sharp turn toward the Portuguese mainland. Air traffic controllers prioritized the wide-body jet for an approach into Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) in Porto.
The aircraft is currently on final approach to Porto. Emergency services, including airport fire and rescue teams, have been placed on standby to meet the aircraft upon arrival, which is standard procedure for any flight declaring a Mayday or 7700 emergency.
UPDATE #1
Air France is planning to stopover of 45 minutes.
UPDATE #2
Touch down on runway 35.
UPDATE #3
The A350 is now parked at remote stand of the airport.
UPDATE #4
The flight is not scheduled to resume before 13:45.
