Paris, February 8 - On February 6, 2026, Air France flight AF566, operating from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY), experienced a serious mid-flight incident that prompted the crew to declare an emergency and initiate a turnaround. The Airbus A330-200 aircraft departed Paris on schedule at approximately 09:11 CET for the roughly four-hour journey to Lebanon. Less than two hours into the flight, while cruising at 39,000 feet over Croatian airspace, the pilots transmitted the emergency squawk code 7700, signaling a general emergency to air traffic control. This action immediately prioritized the flight for handling and diverted it from its original path toward Beirut.
The crew decided to turn the aircraft back toward Europe rather than continue to the destination or proceed to a closer alternate airport in the region. The Airbus A330, registered F-GZCK, began a descent and rerouted toward Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) in Italy, where emergency services were placed on standby to receive the inbound flight. The decision to declare an emergency and divert reflected standard aviation protocols for addressing urgent onboard situations that could compromise the safety of passengers and crew. Air traffic controllers coordinated the priority routing, ensuring the aircraft received expedited clearance through busy European airspace.
Upon arrival in Venice, the aircraft landed safely on runway 04R without further complications. Emergency response teams met the plane on the ground, and the aircraft was subsequently inspected by maintenance personnel. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew members on board. The incident was later attributed to smoke detected in the cabin, a condition classified under non-impact fire or smoke occurrences in aviation safety reporting.
Following the emergency landing, Air France arranged alternative transportation arrangements for passengers bound for Beirut. The airline scheduled a replacement departure from Paris later that day to complete the service. Such incidents underscore the rigorous safety standards maintained in commercial aviation, where flight crews are trained to respond swiftly to any anomalies. The safe resolution of the Air France AF566 emergency highlights effective crew decision-making and coordination with ground authorities during an unexpected mid-flight urgency.