Lyon, France: An Air France Airbus A320 operating flight AF7562 from Paris-Orly to Ajaccio was forced to divert and make an emergency landing at Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport on Saturday, December 20, after a technical problem developed shortly after departure, the airline and multiple sources confirmed.
The aircraft, carrying 173 passengers, departed from Paris-Orly and climbed to cruising altitude when crew detected a technical issue that prompted them to declare an emergency and reroute to the nearest suitable airport as a precautionary measure, according to Air France’s statement.
The airline described the fault as a technical problem that did not compromise the aircraft’s airworthiness, emphasizing that crews followed procedures by shutting down the affected engine and diverting safely. The aircraft touched down at Lyon at approximately 18:25 local time, with no injuries reported.
According to aviation specialists cited by French media, the incident likely involved a “pompage moteur” , a known phenomenon where air pockets in the engine cause significant vibrations, forcing pilots to shut down the engine. Once the engine was cut, vibrations subsided and the Airbus A320 continued to land normally on the remaining operational engine.
Several passengers described a frightening experience in the cabin, reporting strong vibrations, alarms activating, and what they perceived as flashes or flames near one wing. One traveler told RTL that the aircraft “suddenly dropped” and multiple control lights illuminated, adding to onboard alarm. Others recounted hearing a loud “boom” and visible movements that led to panic among some passengers.
Despite passenger perceptions, Air France and aviation experts clarified that there was no confirmed engine fire and no smoke warnings were triggered during the flight. Some brief flames at the engine exhaust area limited in duration and contained within the engine could explain eyewitness descriptions but did not indicate an in-flight fire event.
After the unscheduled landing in Lyon, ground teams accommodated all passengers and arranged onward travel. Air France rebooked the 173 passengers on a later flight from Lyon to Bastia, which departed at 22:39 and arrived at 23:50. From Bastia, passengers were transferred by bus to Ajaccio, arriving in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The airline expressed regret for the disruption and reiterated that passenger and crew safety remained the company’s top priority throughout the event.
