PARIS— An Air France (AF) flight to Dakar (DSS) returned to Paris after a female passenger violently attacked a flight attendant mid-air on Saturday (August 16, 2025).
Flight AF718, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, registered as F-GZNI, had to declare an emergency and turn back shortly after departure following the incident.
Photo: FlightRadar24Air France Emergency Landing at Paris
The 14.4-year-old aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER, departed Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on August 16, 2025, at 17:24 local time for Dakar, Senegal (DSS). While cruising at 32,000 feet over Bordeaux, the crew reported a serious onboard disturbance involving a female passenger.
According to reports, the passenger began pacing the aisle, screaming, and then physically attacked the purser. Witnesses said she attempted to strangle and bite the cabin chief while shouting threats, including “I want to kill.” The severity of the assault prompted the pilots to squawk 7700, signaling an emergency situation, Airlive reported.
The crew restrained the passenger, and the captain decided to return to Paris. The Boeing 777 landed safely back at Charles de Gaulle after 1 hour and 43 minutes in the air.
Once on the ground, authorities escorted the passenger off the aircraft, and the situation was brought under control. Air France confirmed that the flight later departed again from CDG at 21:28 local time, arriving in Dakar (DSS) roughly five hours later without further disruption.
Air France (AF) has strict safety procedures in place to manage unruly passengers. Crew members undergo intensive training to handle physical threats, psychological episodes, and in-flight emergencies. In this case, the coordinated response between the cabin crew and cockpit ensured the safety of all passengers onboard.
Air France has not indicated whether it will press charges against the passenger. However, under French aviation law, physical assaults against airline crew are treated as criminal offenses and can lead to heavy penalties, including imprisonment.
Photo: Clément AlloingSimilar Incident
A dispute involving a passenger on an Air France (AF) flight moments before arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) has drawn attention to airline safety rules, passenger behavior, and France’s strict privacy laws.
The incident escalated when the passenger, denied water during the final descent, took unauthorized photos of crew members, triggering a police response at CDG and sparking debate online about racism and cultural legal norms.
The conflict began during the critical landing phase of an Air France (AF) service into CDG, when a female passenger demanded water. By this point, flight attendants had already strapped into their jumpseats, as required once the landing checklist starts. With service suspended, the crew declined her request.
In response, the passenger—identified on social media as Celrants—photographed a flight attendant without consent. This violated both airline policy and French privacy regulations, specifically le droit à l’image, which prohibits photographing individuals without permission in public or semi-public spaces such as aircraft cabins.
When asked to delete the image, the passenger refused. Upon landing, Air France requested police support, and heavily armed officers boarded to escort the passenger from the aircraft.
While no official charges were recorded, the confrontation immediately went viral after she posted videos on TikTok using terms such as “discrimination” and “racism.”
Photo: Clément AlloingFrench Law and Airline Policy
French privacy law is among the strictest in Europe. Le droit à l’image gives individuals strong protection against unauthorized photos, making the passenger’s action unlawful even inside an airplane.
For airlines such as Air France (AF), this adds an extra layer of legal backing when enforcing cabin policies.
The crew’s decision to call the police was consistent with both French law and international airline practice. Unauthorized photos of staff are treated as security risks, especially when passengers refuse to comply with deletion requests.
Why the Crew Cannot Serve During Descent?
Aviation authorities classify final descent and landing as critical phases of flight. Regulations require crew members to be seated with harnesses fastened, prepared to respond to emergencies. At this point, service duties—including food and drink—must stop entirely.
Air France (AF), like all carriers, enforces this without exception. Passenger misunderstandings are common, but safety protocols outweigh customer service considerations. Experts note that while crew empathy is important, compliance with procedure is non-negotiable.
Online Reaction and Broader Debate
The passenger’s posts ignited debate across social platforms. Some users framed the denial of water as insensitive, while others defended the crew’s actions as proper safety compliance.
The racism accusation fueled further discussion, but available evidence indicates the conflict stemmed primarily from operational procedures and legal restrictions rather than discriminatory treatment.
Feature Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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