Source: Simon Hradecky | www.avherald.com

An Air France Boeing 777-200, registration F-GSPY performing flight AF-291 from Osaka (Japan) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) with 280 people on board, was enroute at FL360 about 80nm north of Baku (Azerbaijan) when the crew initiated a rapid descent and decided to divert to Baku reporting smoke on board. The aircraft landed safely on Baku’s runway 16 about 17 minutes later, stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency services and subsequently taxied to a remote stand where the passengers disembarked via stairs.

A replacement Boeing 777-200 registration F-GSPJ positioned from Paris to Baku and is currently on the ground in Baku waiting for departure estimated at about 22:00L (18:00Z) on Apr 25th 2024.

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Baku about 26 hours after landing.