In a heartbreaking aviation disaster, an Air France flight crashed during a failed landing attempt at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, leaving no survivors among the 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board. The tragedy has plunged France and the global aviation community into mourning as investigations begin into one of the worst air disasters in the country’s history.
Timeline of the Flight
The ill-fated flight, identified as Air France 489, was a long-haul service from São Paulo, Brazil, to Paris. Departing from São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport at 8:10 PM local time, the flight was scheduled to land at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 11:30 AM Paris time. The aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, was operating under routine conditions during most of its journey, cruising at an altitude of 39,000 feet over the Atlantic.
As the flight approached Paris, the weather took a drastic turn. Reports from the French Meteorological Service (Météo-France) indicate that strong winds, torrential rain, and low visibility created challenging landing conditions. The pilot was reportedly advised by air traffic control of the deteriorating weather but opted to proceed with the descent after initially holding above the airport for approximately 30 minutes.
The Final Minutes
Witnesses at the airport described a tense and chaotic scene as the aircraft made its final approach to the runway. Video footage captured by bystanders shows the plane battling severe crosswinds, its wings rocking violently as the pilots struggled to stabilize it.
According to preliminary data from the air traffic control recordings, the crew attempted a “go-around” maneuver after the initial landing attempt proved too dangerous. During the second approach, the aircraft descended rapidly but appeared to veer off its intended flight path. Seconds later, the plane slammed into the ground just short of the runway, breaking apart on impact and erupting into flames.
“I saw the plane descending at a steep angle,” said an airport worker who witnessed the crash. “It seemed out of control, and then there was this massive explosion. The fireball was enormous, and the heat was intense.”
Rescue Efforts and Immediate Response
Emergency teams at Charles de Gaulle Airport were mobilized within moments of the crash. Firefighters, paramedics, and airport staff raced to the site, but the scale of the devastation made rescue efforts extraordinarily difficult. The wreckage was engulfed in flames, with debris scattered across a wide area near the runway.
Emergency crews worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze, but the intensity of the fire delayed their ability to access the main fuselage. When the flames were finally brought under control after nearly three hours, authorities confirmed the devastating news: there were no survivors.
French Interior Minister Élise Dupont, who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, described it as a “national tragedy.” In an emotional statement, she said, “Today, we mourn the loss of 260 lives. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this unimaginable disaster. We will spare no effort in uncovering the truth behind this tragedy.”