Air France Airbus A320 Engine Failure Forces Emergency Diversion to Lyon

An Air France flight from Paris to Ajaccio was forced to divert following an Air France engine failure incident. The event occurred on flight AF 7721, an Airbus A320, approximately 30 minutes after takeoff.

Passengers reported a loud bang in the cabin. One passenger described seeing fire on the wing of the aircraft. This led to significant distress among those on board. Another passenger feared they would be "smashed to pieces" during the sudden event.

Technical Details and Crew Response

Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft executed an Airbus A320 rapid descent. The jet dropped from roughly 34,000 feet to 5,000 feet in about ten minutes. This rapid altitude loss is a standard procedure for an engine-out scenario at cruise altitude. It is known as a drift-down to a safe single-engine operating altitude.

The crew confirmed the left engine had "stopped working mid-flight." Air France officially referred to the event as an engine failure.

Industry experts suggest the cause was likely a CFM56 engine surge. This is a sudden airflow disruption inside the engine. Such a surge forces the flight crew to shut down the affected engine. The A320 is powered by two CFM56 engines. These are widely considered among the most reliable engines in global commercial aviation.

Experts also noted that while passengers reported seeing flames, the wing was not on fire. Any momentary flames would have been contained within the engine's nozzle, a known effect of a surge.

Operational Safety and Regulatory Compliance

The crew immediately initiated an emergency diversion to Lyon. The pilots followed established procedures for a single-engine landing. This process is a core part of pilot training and is covered by strict EASA and ICAO safety regulations.

Air France stated the decision to divert was taken "in accordance with the manufacturer's procedures." The landing in Lyon was completed normally on the remaining engine. This demonstrates the robustness of modern twin-engine aircraft design.

• Redundancy: Twin-engine jets are designed to fly and land safely with only one engine operating.
• Crew Training: Pilots are regularly trained to handle engine failure at all flight phases.
• Regulatory Oversight: European Commercial Air Transport (CAT) operations have maintained a strong safety record. Recent data shows zero fatal accidents in CAT operations involving complex aircraft.

Impact on Passengers and Industry Context

While the outcome was safe, the flight AF 7721 incident caused significant trauma for passengers. The sudden, steep descent and loud noise created a terrifying passenger experience air travel scenario. Passengers were re-routed via a replacement flight and bus, arriving at their destination several hours late.

One passenger has announced plans to file a complaint against the airline. This highlights the challenge airlines face in managing the psychological impact of such events, even when all technical and operational procedures are correctly followed. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of crew training and standard operating procedures in maintaining commercial aviation safety during rare mechanical malfunctions. For more flight operation news, visit flying.flights.

• The rapid descent from 34,000 feet to 5,000 feet in ten minutes was a controlled, standard emergency procedure.
• The CFM56 engine surge required the crew to shut down the engine, as per Airbus and company protocol.
• The successful single-engine landing in Lyon validates the high safety standards of the A320 and pilot training.
• The incident underscores the gap between passenger perception (fire, crashing) and the technical reality of a contained engine malfunction.