Air France A388 over Canada on Jan 29th 2014, special inflight "entertainment"

An Air France Airbus A380-800, registration F-HPJD performing flight AF-6 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to New York JFK,NY (USA), was enroute at FL400 over north east Canada when a strong burning small developed around the aft of the upper deck cabin. Cabin crew rushed to locate the source of the smell, moved passengers out of the seats and removed the seat cushions and finally identified a short circuit in one of the seats' inflight entertainment system. The smell dissipated afterwards, the crew continued the flight to New York - ATC remained unaware - for a safe landing.

Several passengers reported a strong smell of electrical smoke developed near the rear of the upper deck cabin, cabin crew reacted rapidly, moved passengers out of their seats and removed seat cushions. The flight crew indicated they were considering a diversion to Gander,NL (Canada). Cabin crew obviously identified the source of the smell and did something to a seat about mid premium economy class, possibly disconnecting electrical supply, after which the smell dissipated. The flight was continued to New York without diversion. It later emerged an inflight entertainment system had developed a short circuit.

A passenger commented: "Very impressed with the reaction time and teamwork of the cabin crew."

Seats without cushion (Photo: passenger):