Emirates A380 Incident at Nice Airport Under Investigation by France’s BEA

France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, known as BEA, has officially commenced an investigation into a recent aviation incident involving an Emirates Airbus A380 at Nice Cote d’Azur Airport (NCE).

The incident occurred during the approach to Nice Airport when the flight crew of the Emirates Airbus A380, with registration A6-EOM, reported hearing an abnormal noise and experiencing slight vibrations upon switching to CONF 1. The crew continued the approach and upon landing, severe damage to the upper part of slat n°2 on the right wing was discovered.

The Emirates A380, which had arrived on flight EK77 from Dubai International Airport (DXB) on August 18, 2023, had its return journey to DXB via flight EK78 cancelled due to technical reasons, according to an NCE spokesperson.

Engineers on the ground identified damage to a slat on the right wing, prompting the decision to keep the aircraft grounded at NCE for further assessments. An Emirates spokesperson emphasized the airline’s unwavering commitment to safety and stated that the aircraft would remain grounded until comprehensive evaluations were completed.

Afterward, the Emirates A380, bearing the registration A6-EOM, resumed operations, arriving at DXB on flight EK2564 on August 22, 2023. This particular flight number is believed to signify a ferry flight to return the aircraft to the airline’s main base.

As of the current update, A6-EOM is still grounded at DXB. Preliminary assessments by the Aviation Safety Network hinted at a potential drone impact during the approach. However, the BEA has not provided specific details regarding the extent of the damage to the A380’s slat. French investigators categorized the damage as “substantial,” though reassuringly, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew onboard. The BEA’s investigation remains ongoing.