PARIS- An Emirates (EK) Airbus A380 encountered a mishap at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on Monday (July 22, 2024). The superjumbo’s engine collided with an airbridge, causing minor damage to the aircraft.
The incident occurred after the A380 landed in Paris following an overnight flight EK72 from Dubai (DXB). The plane reached its gate around 9:35 am on July 22. The exact cause of the accident remains unclear.
Emirates A380 Damage at Paris Airport
One possibility suggests that the pilots may have accidentally steered the massive jetliner into the airbridge while parking. This highlights the challenges of maneuvering such a large aircraft in tight airport spaces.
The collision forced Emirates to cancel the return flight to Dubai. The A380 now sits grounded in Paris, awaiting repairs and investigation.
The aircraft involved in the incident is Airbus A380-800, registered as A6-EDO. It is a 14.2-year-old aircraft. It was also involved in a lightning strike on January 2, 2024, while approaching Istanbul Airport (IST). The incident resulted in visible damage to the aircraft, creating a burn hole in the nose landing gear door.
Social media footage showed emergency services inspecting the aircraft. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Similar Incidents
This incident marks the second significant ground accident for Emirates’ A380 fleet recently. In March, another superjumbo was damaged at Moscow Domodedovo Airport (SVO) when a ground services vehicle became trapped underneath.
The Moscow incident raised concerns about repairs due to Western sanctions against Russia limiting aircraft part imports. Emirates managed to temporarily fix the plane, allowing it to return to Dubai within days. The aircraft resumed commercial service shortly after.
Despite the apparent severity of the Paris incident, experts expect a relatively quick repair process. The damaged engine, while serious, should not pose long-term challenges for Emirates’ maintenance team.
These incidents highlight the vulnerabilities of large aircraft during ground operations. They also demonstrate Emirates’ ability to swiftly address unexpected maintenance issues, minimizing disruptions to its A380 fleet operations.
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