Gunshots damage Air France A330 aircraft
Aviation Updates Philippines – An Air France Airbus A330-203, with French registry F-GZCK, remains grounded at the Agostinho-Neto International Airport in Point-Noire, the Republic of Congo after a uniformed law enforcement officer fired at least two gunshots towards the parked aircraft on Saturday (West Africa Standard Time).
According to BrazzaNews, the aircraft has just arrived and parked at an aircraft gate when a policeman attacked. Fortunately, the Airbus A330 was only a ferry flight from Paris for its intended repatriation mission for French nationals in Africa.
"The flight scheduled for 10:00 am was postponed for 24 hours in order to allow a replacement aircraft and a crew to be transported from Paris CDG. Customers have been warned and taken care of by our local teams," Air France said in a French tweet.
It added: "The safety of our customers and our crews is our top priority."
No injuries were reported at the scene. However, a bullet completely punctured through the fuselage, while another hit the tarmac rendering the aircraft disabled for quite some time.
Air France has sent a Boeing 777-200ER as a replacement aircraft with French technicians on-board the fix the grounded jet. The replacement flight has already arrived in Point-Noire and will continue the originally scheduled flight back to Paris via Bangui—picking up at least 220 French nationals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A report from The Washington Post confirmed the shooter has been arrested and held in custody. Unconfirmed reports from sources say the suspect may be intoxicated. Police reports on the said incident are yet to be released.
With reports from The Washington Post, Simple Flying, SamChui.com
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| PARKED AIRCRAFT. The supposedly repatriation flight of French nationals was delayed for 24 hours due to a shooting incident at the airport. Photo from BrazzaNews, Twitter |
"The flight scheduled for 10:00 am was postponed for 24 hours in order to allow a replacement aircraft and a crew to be transported from Paris CDG. Customers have been warned and taken care of by our local teams," Air France said in a French tweet.
It added: "The safety of our customers and our crews is our top priority."
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| PUNCTURED FUSELAGE. Photo shows a bullet hole that has punctured through the aircraft. French technicians are already in Point-Noire in an attempt to fix the grounded jet. Photo from BrazzaNews, Twitter |
Air France has sent a Boeing 777-200ER as a replacement aircraft with French technicians on-board the fix the grounded jet. The replacement flight has already arrived in Point-Noire and will continue the originally scheduled flight back to Paris via Bangui—picking up at least 220 French nationals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A report from The Washington Post confirmed the shooter has been arrested and held in custody. Unconfirmed reports from sources say the suspect may be intoxicated. Police reports on the said incident are yet to be released.
With reports from The Washington Post, Simple Flying, SamChui.com
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