An Air France A380 superjumbo carrying more than 500 people made an emergency landing in Canada on Sunday after suffering “serious damage” to one of its engines, with passengers recounting hearing a loud bang followed by violent shaking.
Video and photos posted on social media showed extensive damage to the outer starboard engine, with part of its external cowling apparently sheered away.
The double-decker wide body aircraft carrying 496 passengers and 24 crew had taken off from Paris bound for Los Angeles and was several hours into the flight when the incident occurred.
Passenger Sarah Eamigh told Canadian broadcaster CBC News she heard a “boom” followed by a sudden drop in altitude. “The cabin started vibrating. Someone screamed, and from there we knew something was wrong.”
The plane was diverted as it passed over Greenland and landed safely at a military airport in Goose Bay, eastern Canada. No one was injured.
