Air France A380 Loses Engine Cowling over the Atlantic

An Air France Airbus A380 operating flight 66 from Paris to Los Angeles experienced an uncontained engine failure over Greenland when the titanium fan hub of the right outer engine (No. 4) fractured, ejecting parts of the engine and causing significant damage to the engine casing and air inlet, with debris striking the wing and airframe. The crew detected vibrations and a brief heading change, interpreted the issue as an engine stall, and shut down the damaged engine following ECAM procedures.

With reduced thrust and unable to maintain cruise altitude, the aircraft descended step by step, stabilizing at lower flight levels while maintaining safe speed. The crew declared a Mayday via datalink and audio communication, coordinated with Air France's Operational Control Centre, and decided to divert to Goose Bay Airport, Canada, considering available approaches and safety. The Airbus conducted a RNAV GNSS approach to runway 26 and landed safely at 15:42 UTC, with no injuries to crew or passengers, though debris from the failed engine had fallen along the route and on the runway, requiring removal before taxiing to the stand.

Sources

• BEA: Airbus A380 F-HPJE / AF066 investigation
• Flightradar24: AF66 flight data and diversion chronology

Accident Facts

Times are shown only where established; otherwise the sequence is chronological.