Description

On 16 September 2018, a Boeing 777-300 (F-GSQL) being operated by Air France on a scheduled international passenger flight from Mauritius to Paris CDG as AF463 was beginning its takeoff when an unsecured cabin service cart left its forward galley stowage and travelled almost the full length of the cabin before being stopped by impact with an unoccupied passenger seat. Eight passengers were injured, one seriously. Once airborne, an assessment of the seriously injured passenger was made and it was decided that their condition was such that the flight continuing to Paris as planned would be the best option.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the French Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Agency, the BEA, based mainly on crew and passenger statements which included that of the a doctor who had been on board and had assessed and assisted the seriously injured passenger.

What Happened

For operational reasons, the aircraft used to operate the accident flight was not the one initially scheduled. This change, although not involving the substitution of a different aircraft type, did involve the aircraft having a differently configured cabin which, when the cabin crew were only notified late of the details of the new cabin configuration, put them under workload pressure prior to and during passenger boarding.