An Air France flight bound for Senegal was forced to return to Paris after a violent incident involving a passenger and a senior crew member.

Flight AF718, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER (registration F-GZNI), departed Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on Saturday, 16 August at 17:24 CEST en route to Dakar. The aircraft was cruising at 32,000 feet over Bordeaux when the pilots declared a mid-air emergency (squawk 7700) and turned back to Paris.

According to reports, a female passenger became aggressive during the flight. Witnesses say she began pacing up and down the cabin before shouting and attempting to strangle the flight’s purser, screaming “I want to kill.” The woman also allegedly tried to bite the cabin chief during the struggle.

Cabin crew restrained the passenger while pilots initiated the emergency diversion. The aircraft landed safely at CDG after 1 hour and 43 minutes in the air.

Air France confirmed that the incident was handled in accordance with safety procedures and the individual was removed from the aircraft upon arrival.

The flight later departed Paris again at 21:28 CEST, arriving in Dakar around five hours later without further incident.

The woman involved is believed to be suffering from a serious mental health episode. Authorities in France are now investigating the matter.