On February 6, 2025, Air France flight AF898 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Fort-de-France was forced to return to Paris after a passenger’s phone fell into the cargo hold. The incident caused a delay of over two hours before the flight resumed.
Emergency Details
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER registered as F-GSQX, took off from Paris at 15:07 CET. While cruising at 31,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, the crew declared an emergency (squawk 7700). About 40 minutes into the flight, the aircraft started circling before heading back to CDG Airport.
How Did the Phone End Up in the Cargo Hold?
The emergency was triggered when a female passenger dropped her phone through a galley vent. The device then slipped into the cargo hold. Given the risk of fire from a damaged lithium battery, the crew decided to return to Paris to ensure flight safety.
Safe Landing and Phone Retrieval
The Boeing 777 landed safely at 17:18 CET in Paris. Maintenance teams had to remove two cargo pallets to retrieve the phone. After clearance, the flight departed again at 18:49 CET and finally landed in Fort-de-France at 22:39 local time, arriving over two hours late.
Safety First in Aviation
This incident highlights the strict safety protocols in aviation, especially regarding lithium batteries, which can pose a fire hazard. While the delay was inconvenient for passengers, flight safety remains the top priority.
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