Incident Overview
On September 22, 2011, at approximately 2300 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), Air France flight 558, an Airbus A319 registered as F-GRXN, declared an emergency while in cruise flight. The crew reported an indication of smoke originating from the lavatory. The aircraft was operating a non-stop service from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (LFPG), France, to N'Djamena International Airport (FTTJ), Chad.
Diversion and Landing
In response to the smoke indication, the flight crew diverted the aircraft to Hassi Messaoud/Oued Irara - Krim Belkacem Airport (DAUH) in Algeria. The airplane landed without incident, and both crew and passengers were uninjured. Post-landing inspection revealed no damage to the aircraft.
Post-Incident Examination
Following the landing, the aircraft was thoroughly examined. No signs of fire were detected. The forward galley air-chiller unit was removed from the aircraft for further examination to determine the source of the smoke indication.
Investigation
The investigation into the incident has been delegated by the government of Algeria to the French Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses pour la Securite de l'Aviation Civile (BEA). The BEA has requested assistance from the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the investigation. Further information about this incident may be obtained from the BEA.