AF passengers asked to pay fuel bill in cash

[Victor Inox]

au nombre desquels figuraient des personnalités libanaises hostiles au régime de Bachar al-Assad

Thanks, jcjeant. Interestingly, no names are mentioned in that newspaper article, though.

But then, almost half the world is currently hostile to the Assad regime.

[jcjeant]

But then, almost half the world is currently hostile to the Assad regime.

Definitely
But you probably know that sheep avoid at all costs to get to the lair of the wolf

[jcjeant]

Paris-Damas: le droutant priple du vol AF 562 - L'EXPRESS

How Air France refused to ask one of its aircraft with 174 passengers on Beirut airport, destination ... to make land at Damascus, while the civil war torn Syria. Synopsis of this incredible journey that could end badly.

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[andrasz]

A surprisingly well written, factual article that clarifies the decision process and answers my previous question.
In summary for those lacking the time to read through:
- The filed alternate was LCA
- 5 mins after takeoff a cockpit window heat failed. Ops authorised continuation of flight, with repair to be done in BEY before next flight.
- When the BEY events unfolded, AMM was chosen to divert because of the availabiity of tech support (to fix the window heat) and also to take care of pax (CAI was also considered, but was beyond range)
- The flight did not have Syrian overflight permits, while the matter was negotiated fuel was used up and there was no option left but to land in DAM
- Subsequently the a/c performed two more legs (DAM-LCA and LCA-BEY) with the fault.

Seems to be a case of a well intended but ill informed and not quite thought through decision leading to an unexpected and potentially disasterous outcome. AF ops should have been aware that crossing Syrian airspace requires flight specific permits.

[pax2908]

So essentially 5mins after take off, the single planned alternate, LCA, was no longer practicable (too expensive for the repair to be carried out there)?

[andrasz]

So essentially 5mins after take off, the single planned alternate, LCA, was no longer practicable...

Essentally correct, not because of the expense but probably because LCA lacked an (AF) approved maintenance organisation, meaning the aircraft would have been stuck there until the parts and a certified mechanic could be flown in.

However I think I would have made the same decision, if the MEL says the flight may be continued to the next landing and the destination has suitable maintenance facilities. At the time everyone involved could safely assume that the flight will continue to Beirut.

The fundamental mistake was the decision to divert to AMM without making sure that all the necessary paperwork was in order. Anyone operating in that part of the world should know better than to simply redespatch in mid-air (...at least they did not consider TLV, they did have some vague ideas after all...). Clearly it would have been a better choice to bite the bulet and go for LCA and either organise the maintenance support, or get a one-off waiver for the next flight from the DGAC (it seems they eventually did for the LCA-BEY leg - I don't think the issue was ever raised leaving DAM).

[AlphaZuluRomeo]

Originally Posted by andrasz

Respectfully, in GCD you're correct. However should you care to make the effort, I suggest you have a look at the published mandatory entry points and routes over Syria, and you will find that the shortest distance you may do BEY-AMM along the published airways is a good 50% more (~320 Km) than the distance BEY-LCA (~210 Km).

My bad, sorry didn't check that.
Thanks for pointing that out


jcjeant, thanks for the L'EXPRESS link.
I can add this one from Le Point, less "new" facts, but I understand that the alternates were Amman, Cairo & Larnaca (not only Larnaca, as stated by L'EXPRESS, even if it may have been the 1st alternate on the FP)

Apart from this detail, I fully agree with the analysis of andrasz

With hindsight, a bad decision, but I'm at last reassured to learn that there don't seem to be any kind of strict "minimum fuel policy" at AF.

[ATC Watcher]

On the comments part of the "L'Express" article posted here ( below the article itself) is this interesting sentence :

Si je peux me permettre un petit rectificatif à votre article, la panne du pare-brise était connue au départ de CDG puisque notifiée à l'équipage au cours du briefing PNC.

Or " Correction, the Windshield failure was known before departure from CDG because mentioned to the crew during the Cabin Crew briefing "

If this is correct ,and if the guy who posted that is genuine, ( 2 "if" ) = a different story.

[ATC Watcher]

I understand that the alternates were Amman, Cairo & Larnaca .

I just read the "Le Point" article you quoted . It does not say that Amman , Larnaca and Cairo were the alternates of this perticular Flight Plan, it says that those are [normally] the 3 airports used as alternates for a BEY flight. I would like to se the PLN before going any further.
Because to fly BEY-AMM you normally need overfly diplomatic clearance(s) unless you declare emergency and call mayday (from the start)

[jcjeant]

Or " Correction, the Windshield failure was known before departure from CDG because mentioned to the crew during the Cabin Crew briefing "

Air France vol 562 : Surréaliste ! | Les éditos d'Alexandre G.
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