Air France Flight Paris-Ajaccio Makes Emergency Landing in Lyon After Engine Fire

On December 20, 2025, Air France flight AF 7721, an Airbus A320 traveling from Paris to Ajaccio, was forced to make an emergency landing at Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport due to a serious technical incident involving the aircraft's left engine. Approximately thirty minutes into the flight, passengers reported a loud explosion-like noise followed by intense vibrations and a sharp loss of altitude, dropping from 34,000 feet to 5,000 feet within ten minutes. Witnesses described seeing flames erupting from one of the wings, which heightened panic among those onboard.

Steven, a passenger, recounted hearing a "big boom" and observing bright flashes and fire on the wing. Another passenger described a father holding his children tightly amid fears the plane might crash. Although the flight attendants instructed passengers to remain calm and seated, communication from the cockpit was delayed until the crew ensured control of the situation.

The captain subsequently informed the passengers that the left engine had failed and was shut down following an apparent "reactor surge," a condition where airflow is disrupted, causing engine failure. Air France characterized the event as a "technical incident" and emphasized that safety was prioritized, resulting in a safe landing on one engine at 6:25 PM. Thankfully, no injuries occurred during the emergency.

Following the landing, passengers endured several hours of delay before being transferred to another Air France flight bound for Bastia. From there, they were transported by bus to complete their journey to Ajaccio, arriving around 3 AM the following day, nearly 19 hours after their initial departure. Air France expressed regret for the inconvenience and confirmed a technical investigation into the cause of the engine failure is underway.

This incident highlights the professionalism of the flight crew under extreme circumstances and underscores the airline’s commitment to passenger safety despite the distress caused. Passengers praised the crew's handling of the emergency despite limited initial communication.

Currently, Air France is cooperating with aviation authorities to determine the precise cause of the engine fire and failure, and no further flights have been reported to have similar issues so far.