Air France had to divert a flight from Tokyo to Paris due to a medical emergency. The Boeing 777-300ER, originally scheduled for a 14-hour journey, faced delays from the Russian airspace closure. After 10 hours in the air, the crew declared the emergency and landed at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport around 2:00 AM local time.

The flight left Tokyo at 9:01 AM on April 9, 2025, following a polar route to avoid Russian airspace. Several hours later, the crew rerouted the plane southward due to a medical emergency. Anchorage was the closest available airport for an emergency stop. Upon arrival, the crew reached their maximum duty time, further delaying the journey.

The diversion created operational issues for the airline, which lacks a local presence in Anchorage. The absence of ground staff made managing passenger logistics difficult. Many passengers may not have had US visas, complicating hotel arrangements. The crew exceeded their duty time, preventing the flight from continuing that day. Aircraft servicing and other factors also delayed the flight’s departure.

The closure of Russian airspace in 2022 has forced airlines to take longer routes and rely on diversion airports like Anchorage. This incident emphasizes the need for effective contingency planning in long-haul flights.

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