An Air France flight bound for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport made a precautionary return to Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport late Monday after passengers and crew reported a strong odor and traces of smoke shortly after departure. The aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, landed safely and was grounded for inspection as engineers began a full technical assessment.
Urgent Return After In-Flight Anomaly
Flight AF411 was scheduled to depart Buenos Aires at 22:40 but pushed back at 23:16 for its overnight service to Paris. Only minutes into the climb, several passengers reported a strange smell spreading through the cabin. Some described the odor as coming from lighting units, though this has not been independently confirmed.
As the aircraft climbed through roughly 17,000 feet, the flight crew detected an unusual “heat smell” in both the cockpit and cabin. According to the airline, “the crew detected a heat smell in both the cockpit and cabin and opted to return to EZE for inspection.”
The captain declared a Pan Pan, an international urgency signal indicating a potentially serious but non-life-threatening situation. With smoke lightly visible in parts of the cabin, the crew initiated an immediate return to Buenos Aires.
Safe Landing and Emergency Response
The aircraft landed safely on Runway 11 approximately 35 minutes after departure. Emergency teams had already positioned themselves on the apron in preparation for the aircraft’s arrival. The A350 taxied to the gate under its own power, where ground crews assisted passengers and coordinated onward travel plans.
Air France emphasized that safety protocols functioned as intended and reiterated its commitment to passenger well-being. The airline noted that ground teams supported travelers after the return and arranged alternative flights, stating that customer and crew safety “remains its highest priority.”
Aircraft Grounded for Technical Evaluation
Once parked, the aircraft was removed from service for an extensive inspection led by maintenance specialists. The A350-900 involved, registered F-HTYT, has been part of the airline’s fleet for just over three years. The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines and seats 324 passengers across three cabins.
Delivered to Air France in late 2022 after initial testing under Airbus registration, the jet remained parked at Ezeiza as technicians examined onboard systems to determine the source of the odor and smoke.
Air France operates a double-daily Buenos Aires–Paris service, using the A350-900 on AF411 and a Boeing 787-9 on AF471. Monday’s incident prompted the cancellation of AF411 for the night, with passengers rebooked on subsequent services.
Similar Odor Event Earlier This Month
The incident followed another odor-related diversion earlier in the month involving a separate Air France A350 operating from Paris to Seoul. That aircraft diverted to Munich Airport after crew members noticed fumes and a burning smell in the cockpit. After landing, the aircraft remained on the ground for checks while a replacement Boeing 777-300ER completed the journey to Incheon International Airport.
Industry analysts have noted a rising number of odor-related cockpit and cabin events globally, prompting increased attention from airlines and aviation regulators. While such incidents rarely escalate into emergencies, they often require significant engineering investigation to ensure continued aircraft safety.
Fleet Modernization Continues Despite Setback
Air France currently operates 39 A350 aircraft and has placed additional orders for 49 Airbus A350-900 jets and three Airbus A350-1000 models. The fleet expansion is a cornerstone of the airline’s modernization strategy, aimed at phasing out older Airbus A330-200, Boeing 777-200ER, and selected Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The broader Air France-KLM Group continues to operate an extensive network through subsidiaries and partner airlines across Europe, Africa, and the Indian Ocean region.
Ongoing Investigation
As of Tuesday, the grounded A350 in Buenos Aires remains under examination as engineers work to identify the cause of the in-flight odor and smoke. Air France has completed rebooking for affected passengers and expects to resume standard operations on the Buenos Aires–Paris route once the aircraft is cleared for service.
The airline has not yet provided a timeline for the aircraft’s return to operation but said further updates will follow once technical teams conclude their investigation.
