An Air Caraïbes flight, TX517, bound for Paris from Fort-de-France, was forced to return to Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport on Sunday, January 4, 2026, following a technical issue with one of its engines. The incident, which occurred shortly after takeoff, involved visible flames from one of the aircraft’s reactors, as reported by RESCA and eyewitnesses.
Emergency Landing in Fort-de-France
The flight, carrying approximately 351 passengers, departed from Fort-de-France when, around 6:15 PM local time, flames were observed emanating from one of the engines during the takeoff phase. In response to this critical situation, the aircraft immediately turned back to Fort-de-France, where emergency services, including firefighters, were on standby at the tarmac.
A passenger on board described hearing “a big boom, as if there had been an impact with a bird” shortly after takeoff. While unable to see the flames from her seat, she noted that the plane began to slow down, and the crew announced that the engine had been secured. The airline has not yet provided an official cause for the incident.
Passenger Accounts and Airline Response
Videos shared on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), captured the dramatic moments of what appeared to be an explosion followed by flames from one of the reactors, just minutes after the plane’s departure. These images underscore the seriousness of the technical malfunction.
Air Caraïbes has scheduled a new flight for Monday, January 5, 2026, to accommodate the affected passengers. The airline has not yet released an official statement regarding the cause of the engine problem, and actu Paris‘ attempts to contact the company for further details have been unsuccessful.
This incident follows other recent technical issues with flights. On January 5, 2024, Air Caraïbes flight TX511 from Fort-de-France to Paris also experienced a technical issue, forcing it to return to the airport. Passengers on that flight faced delays, with some having to spend the night at the airport due to a lack of available hotel rooms during the high season [rci.fm](https://rci.fm/martinique/infos/Faits-divers/Les-400-passagers-du-vol-TX511-dAir-Caraibes-ont-pu-regagner-Paris). Similarly, on December 20, 2025, an Air France flight from Paris-Orly to Ajaccio was diverted to Lyon due to an engine malfunction, with passengers reporting “flames” and “strong vibrations” [actu.fr](https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/orly_94054/des-flammes-sur-un-vol-air-france-un-avion-paris-ajaccio-deroute-en-urgence-apres-un-probleme-technique_63606760.html), [rtl.fr](https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/avion-deroute-panne-moteur-aile-en-feu-ce-que-l-on-sait-de-l-incident-du-vol-air-france-paris-ajaccio-7900581387), [leparisien.fr](https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/un-vol-air-france-paris-ajaccio-deroute-en-urgence-apres-un-incident-technique-en-plein-vol-21-12-2025-6CJ2D5Q3IVEYDEUJH3GIXCU5KQ.php), [francebleu.fr](https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/un-vol-air-france-paris-ajaccio-deroute-en-urgence-vers-lyon-apres-un-incendie-moteur-2677050).
Investigation Underway
While the immediate focus was on the safe return of the aircraft and the well-being of its passengers, a full investigation into the cause of the engine incident is expected to follow. Aviation authorities will likely examine the aircraft’s maintenance records and the specifics of the malfunction to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The safety protocols implemented by the crew and airport personnel ensured that all 351 individuals on board were safely disembarked and attended to after the emergency landing.
Source: actu.fr
