Reunion-bound Air France flight diverted to Seychelles

A scheduled flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Reunion’s Roland Garros International Airport in the capital St Denis made an unscheduled landing in the Seychelles last week, when a medical emergency on board prompted the pilots to divert the flight to Mahe, to allow for the patient to be evacuated to the main hospital in Victoria.

The Boeing 777 flight was given immediate landing permission when the situation on board was explained to air traffic control and the aircraft landed without any problems.

The patient, reportedly a young girl suffering from a bout of epilepsy, and her mother, were taken off the plane by standby medical personnel and then rushed to the Seychelles Hospital where she was admitted and received treatment.

The plane continued its journey to Reunion after two hours on the ground.

Air France, while codesharing with Air Seychelles on that airline’s scheduled flights from Paris CDG to Mahe, is not operating flights to the Seychelles directly. The unexpected sight of the Air France aircraft stirred much attention from onlookers, more so when no passengers disembarked and only ambulances rushed to the aircraft after it reached parking position.

No further information could be obtained on the present condition of the young patient but best wishes go out to her for a speedy and full recover.