IQALUIT, NU — An Air France flight with 262 passengers onboard heading to Seattle was diverted after a "heat smell" was noticed in the passenger cabin on Tuesday, May 7.
The plane, a Boeing 787-9, was diverted to Iqaluit Airport in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. The decision was made "in accordance with the manufacturer's procedures, the airline's instructions and in the application of the precautionary principle," according to Air France.
Flight data from FlightAware shows the plane took off at 10:44 a.m. CEST (Central European Summer Time) and landed in Canada at 11:54 a.m. EST. The plane had just passed over the Northwestern Passage when it abruptly changed course.
The aircraft landed safely in Iqaluit, according to Air France. No injuries were reported.
Passengers were eventually offloaded so technical checks on the aircraft could be made, according to Air France. The checks were to determine whether the plane could continue to Seattle.
Later, a second aircraft was sent to the airport and was expected to take passengers to JFK International Airport, according to a spokesperson for Iqaluit Airport. That aircraft was expected to take off by 10 p.m. EST.
"Air France regrets the inconvenience caused by the situation and reiterates that the safety of its customers and crews is its absolute imperative," a statement from the airline reads.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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