Air France has been in operation since 1933. Its aircraft have been involved in a number of major accidents and incidents. The deadliest accident of the airline occurred on June 1, 2009, when Air France Flight 447, an Airbus A330-203, flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed into the Atlantic Ocean with 228 fatalities. A selected list of the most noteworthy of these events is given below.
Date | Aircraft type | Registration | Route | Location of crash site | Passenger / crew / total | Dead / injured | Cause of crash | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 January 1934 | Dewoitine D.332 | F-AMMY [1] | Saigon–Paris | Corbigny, France | 7 / 3 / 10 | 10 / 0 | Crashed, possibly due to icing, after flying into a snowstorm | Named Emeraude |
9 May 1934 | Wibault 282T-12 | F-AMHP | Le Bourget–Croydon | English Channel off Dungeness, Kent, United Kingdom | 3 / 3 / 6 | 6 / 0 | Undetermined | Some debris and a body found on the French coast on 18 May |
19 May 1934 | Golden Clipper | Unknown | Unknown | Croydon Airport, Surrey, United Kingdom | ? / ? / 10 | 0 / 1 | Fuel exhaustion | [2] |
31 May 1934 | Lioré et Olivier LeO 213 | F-AIVG | Croydon–Paris | Croydon | 0 / 2 / 2 | 2 / 0 | Struck a radio mast shortly after takeoff | |
5 August 1934 | Latécoère 26-2R | F-AILK | Unknown | Near Bahia, Brazil | 0 / 2 / 2 | 2 / 0 | Loss of control on takeoff for reasons unknown | |
1 April 1935 | Farman F.306 | F-ALHQ | Paris–Croydon | Brémontier-Merval | 1 / 2 / 3 | 1 / 0 | Loss of control | |
2 November 1935 | Latécoère 28-1 | F-AJIQ | Santiago de Chile–Paris | Off Aracaju, Brazil | 0 / 4 / 4 | 4 / 0 | Crashed at sea for reasons unknown | Wreckage and bodies found a day later |
11 November 1935 | Latécoère 28-1 | F-AJPB | Marseille–Barcelona | Near Istres, France | 0 / 3 / 3 | 3 / 0 | Crashed while flying in a thunderstorm | |
21 January 1936 | CAMS 53/1 | F-AJIR | Marseille–Tunis | Corsica | 3 / 3 / 6 | 6 / 0 | Loss of control following engine failure | |
10 February 1936 | Latécoère 301 | F-AOIK | Paris–Rio de Janeiro | Atlantic Ocean | 1 / 5 / 6 | 6 / 0 | Disappeared after messaging that they were flying in a storm | Named Ville de Buenos Aires |
8 May 1936 | Lioré et Olivier LeO H-242 | F-ANQG | Marseille–Algiers | Mediterranean Sea | 4 / 4 / 8 | 1 / 0 | Ditched after all four engines failed due to fuel starvation | Named Ville de Nice |
2 August 1936 | Wibault 283.T12 | F-ANBL | Paris–Toulouse–Dakar–Natal–Rio de Janeiro | Albine, Tarn | 0 / 3 / 3 | 3 / 0 | CFIT | Named L'Aventureux |
7 December 1936 | Latécoère 300 | F-AKGF [3] | Marseille–Rio de Janeiro | Atlantic Ocean | 0 / 5 / 5 | 5 / 0 | Disappeared after pilot messaged "we have switched off the right rear engine" | Named Croix du Sud Aviator Jean Mermoz was on board |
27 October 1937 | Dewoitine D.333 | F-ANQA [4] | Dakar–Toulouse | Off El Jadida, Morocco | 3 / 3 / 6 | 6 / 0 | Disappeared over the Atlantic after sending an SOS | Named Antares Only two mail bags recovered on beaches in Morocco |
8 December 1937 | Potez 621 | F-AOTZ [5] | Paris–Marseille | Near Saillans, France | 4 / 3 / 7 | 2 / 5 | Poor visibility, CFIT | Named L'Épervier |
9 February 1938 | Lioré et Olivier H.242/1 | F-ANPB [6] | Marseille–Tunis | Etang de Berre | 9 / 5 / 14 | 7 / 0 | Struck breakwater in fog | Named Ville de Bone |
7 March 1938 | Potez 62/1 | F-ANQR [7] | Hanoi–Paris | [Datia, near Jhansi], India | 3 / 4 / 7 | 7 / 0 | Crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff | Named La Tapageuse Burials at Jhansi Cantonment Cemetery |
23 March 1938 | Dewoitine D.338 | F-AQBB [8] | Dakar–Toulouse | Pyrenees Mountains | 3 / 5 / 8 | 8 / 8 | CFIT | |
27 January 1939 | Potez 62 | F-ANPJ [9] | Paris–Berlin | Near Butzweilerhof Airfield, Germany | 2 / 4 / 6 | 6 / 0 | Struck a chimney in fog | Named Courlis |
3 April 1939 | Caudron Simoun | F-AOOT [10] | Unknown | Mountain near Marrakech, Morocco | ? / ? / 9 | 9 / 0 | CFIT | |
2 May 1939 | Dewoitine D.338 | F-ARIC [11] | Dakar–Casablanca–Paris | Near Argana, Morocco | 6 / 3 / 9 | 9 / 0 | Icing, loss of control |
Date | Aircraft type | Registration | Route | Location of crash site | Passenger / crew / total | Dead / injured | Cause of crash | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 March 1940 | Bloch MB.220 | F-AOHA [12] | Paris–Marseille | near Orange, France | 0 / 3 / 3 | 3 / 0 | CFIT in bad weather due to a navigation error | |
20 June 1940 | Dewoitine D.338 | F-ARTD [13] | Unknown | near Ouistreham | 0 / 3 / 3 | 1 / 0 | Accidental shootdown | |
7 July 1940 | F-AQBA [14] | Unknown | Gulf of Tonkin | 0 / 4 / 4 | 4 / 0 | Shot down by Japanese fighter | ||
10 October 1940 | F-AQBJ [15] | Niamey–Cotonou | Carnotville, Benin | 0 / 3 / 3 | 3 / 0 | CFIT in poor weather | ||
27 November 1940 | SNCAC NC.223.4 | F-AROA [16] | Marseille–Damascus | Mediterranean Sea | 5 / 2 / 7 | 7 / 0 | Shot down after flying into the battle zone off Cape Spartivento (likely) | named Le Verrier |
1 September 1941 | Bloch MB.220 | F-AQNL [17] | Marseille–Toulouse | Bollemont | 14 / 3 / 17 | 15 / 2 | Engine failure during takeoff | |
13 August 1942 | Lioré et Olivier H-246.1 | F-AREJ [18] | Marseille–Algiers | Algiers | 4 / 6 / 10 | 4 / 0 | Attacked by RAF Hawker Hurricane fighters, sank after landing | named Mauritanie |
27 September 1942 | Dewoitine D.342 | F-ARIZ [19] | Paris–Dakar | Ameur-el-Aïn, Algeria | 18 / 7 / 25 | 25 / 0 | Loss of control after takeoff for reasons unknown; possible bombing | |
13 January 1943 | Lockheed 14H2 Super Electra | F-ARRF [20] | Dakar–Algiers | Aguelhok, Mali | 0 / 3 / 3 | 3 / 0 | Engine failure | |
23 August 1945 | Lockheed Lodestar | F-ARTK | Unknown | off Algiers | 3 / 4 / 7 | 7 / 0 | Loss of control, crashed at sea for reasons unknown | Wreckage never recovered |
10 September 1945 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BAJP [21] | Unknown | Le Bourget Airport | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
31 October 1945 | Latécoère 631 | F-BANT [22] | Unknown | Laguna de Rocha, Uruguay | 2+ / ? / 2+ | 2 / ? | Propeller separation, fuselage penetration | |
10 November 1945 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BANO [23] | Unknown | Le Bourget Airport | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
23 November 1945 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BAKL [24] | Unknown | Toulouse | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
25 December 1945 | Lockheed C-60A Lodestar | F-BALV [23] | Paris–Fort Lamy–Bangui–Antananarivo | near Bangui | 5 / 3 / 8 | 8 / 0 | Loss of control | Prince Vinh San of Vietnam killed Aircraft leased from the Ministry of Air |
13 January 1946 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BANP [25] | Paris–Bordeaux | Le Bouscat, Bordeaux, France | 0 / 2 / 2 | 2 / 0 | Struck a church steeple | |
29 June 1946 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BAJS [26] | Paris–Pau | near Pau | 0 / 3 / 3 | 2 / 0 | Struck power lines on approach | |
8 August 1946 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BAJT [27] | Unknown | Le Bourget Airport | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
3 September 1946 | Douglas DC-3A | F-BAOB [28] | Copenhagen–Paris | Køge, Denmark | 17 / 5 / 22 | 22 / 0 | Engine fire caused by fuel leak, CFIT | |
4 September 1946 | Douglas DC-3D | F-BAXD [29] | Paris–London | near Le Bourget Airport | 21 / 5 / 26 | 20 / 6 | Unexplained loss of power resulting in loss of altitude on takeoff | Killed Air France's first flight attendant, Paulette Vavasseur; one person also died on the ground; amongst the survivors was the English actor John Slater and his wife Betty [30] |
1 February 1947 | Douglas C-47A | F-BAXQ [31] | Paris–Bordeaux–Lisbon | Serra de Sintra | 11 / 5 / 16 | 15 / ? | CFIT | |
5 March 1947 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BAKP [32] | Unknown | Le Bourget Airport | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
14 March 1947 | Douglas C-47A | F-BAXO [33] | Nice–Lyon–Paris | Mont Moucherolle | 18 / 5 / 23 | 23 / 0 | Possible navigation error, CFIT | |
4 June 1947 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BANB [34] | Nice–Marseille–Lyon–Paris | Gèmenos, France | 3 / 0 / 3 | 3 / 0 | ADF failure, CFIT | |
7 June 1947 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BAKV [35] | Unknown | Yoff Airport | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
1 July 1947 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BALF (AF612) [36] | Bangui–Yaounde–Douala | Eséka, Cameroon | 10 / 3 / 13 | 13 / 0 | CFIT | |
4 October 1947 | Amiot AAC.1 | F-BAJB [37] | Unknown | Pau, France | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
7 October 1947 | SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc | F-BATY [38] | Bône–Paris | Bône (now Annaba), Algeria | ? / ? / ? | 0 / ? | Landing gear failure, overran and crashed on takeoff | |
6 January 1948 | Douglas DC-3D | F-BAXC (AF122) [39] | Brussels–Paris | near Gonesse | 11 / 5 / 16 | 16 / 0 | Possible stall on approach | |
26 January 1948 | SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc | F-BCUC [40] | None | Romainville, Paris | 0 / 9 / 9 | 9 / 0 | Loss of control | |
4 February 1948 | SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc | F-BATK [41] | Unknown | Marignane Airport | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
10 February 1948 | SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc | F-BATH [42] | Unknown | Orly Airport | Unknown | Unknown | Written off | |
10 April 1948 | Douglas DC-4-1009 | F-BBDC [43] | Lagos–Kano–Algiers–Paris | Kano Airport | 0 / 6 / 6 | 1 / ? | Locked nosewheel, runway excursion | |
14 June 1948 | SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc | F-BATG [44] | None | Coulommiers Airport | ? / ? / 9 | 0 / 0 | Caught fire during refueling, burned out | |
1 August 1948 | Latécoère 631 | F-BDRC (AF072) | Fort de France–Port-Etienne–Paris | Atlantic Ocean | 41 / 11 / 52 | 52 / 0 | Ditching at sea for reasons unknown; possible in-flight fire | named Lionel de Marnier |
29 August 1948 | SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc | F-BATO [45] | None | Le Bourget Airport | ? / ? / ? | 0 / ? | Caught fire in hangar, burned out | |
23 November 1948 | SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc | F-BATM [46] | None | Montaudran Airport | 0 / 5 / 5 | 1 / ? | Maintenance error, loss of control on takeoff | |
9 April 1949 | SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc | F-BATU [47] | Paris–Nice | Nice Airport | 30 / 5 / 35 | 0 / 0 | Runway overrun | |
28 October 1949 | Lockheed L-749-79-46 Constellation | F-BAZN (AF009) | Paris–Lisbon–Santa Maria–New York | Pico da Vara | 37 / 11 / 48 | 48 / 0 | Pilot error, CFIT | Killed boxer Marcel Cerdan, violinist Ginette Neveu, some members of the Barnum & Bailey Circus and Walt Disney Studios chief merchandiser Kay Kamen [48] [49] |
28 November 1949 | Douglas C-54A | F-BELO [50] | Paris–Lyon–Tunis | near Saint-Just-Chaleyssin | 33 / 5 / 38 | 5 / 0 | Pilot error, CFIT | |
3 January 2025
Air France Flight 1448 was a scheduled flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Barcelona El Prat, when the aircraft, an 18 year old Airbus A318, registered F-GUGR, had a cabin pressurization issue a few minutes after takeoff. The aircraft turned around and landed safely at Paris Charles de Gaulle. No injuries were reported.
Air France has been the target of several hijackings, which are listed in chronological order: