French investigators are probing a ground incident during which a ramp worker suffered serious injuries during a pushback operation. The 24 July event occurred at Paris Charles de Gaulle as an Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER was preparing for a service to Toronto. French authority BEA states that part of the towbar fractured and that, when it disconnected from the tractor, the aircraft advanced. The bar, under tension, struck the ramp worker's legs. BEA has not disclosed the extent of injuries, but describes the event as "serious".

Source: FlightGlobal

British Airways is attributing to a "technical issue" the evacuation of an Airbus A321 whose cabin appeared to fill with smoke or mist during approach to Valencia. Images circulating on social media, purportedly taken by passengers on board flight BA422 from London Heathrow, indicate that visibility was severely reduced in the cabin. The jet touched down on runway 12 at Valencia at around 18:45 on 5 August. BA says 175 passengers and eight crew members were on board the twinjet. Evacuation slides were deployed from six of the eight exits, images of the incident indicate. Three passengers were taken to hospital as a precaution, says the carrier, and all have since been discharged. The images identify the aircraft as G-MEDN, an International Aero Engines V2500-powered airframe. It was originally ordered by British Airways franchise partner BMED before the airline was taken over by BMI. BMI was subsequently acquired by British Airways. BA says the aircraft "experienced a technical issue" during the approach, and was met by airport emergency services.
"The safety of our customers and crew is always our highest priority," the airline adds. "In addition to our team on site, other British Airways team members have arrived in Valencia to help our customers and our local airport partners with anything they need." Spanish investigation authority CIAIAC has not given any details of the incident.

Source: FlightGlobal

Russian authorities in St Petersburg have identified operator Rossiya as being among companies participating in a state property privatisation scheme. The St Petersburg government has outlined a decision to amend an October 2018 privatisation decree which set out privatisation initiatives for 2019 and the 2020-21 planning period. Rossiya is just over 25%-owned by the local St Petersburg administration, according to a document published by city governor Alexander Beglov on 5 August. The document gives a net asset value of Rb7.36 billion ($112 million). Privatisation of the state property would potentially provide the possibility of dividends and the reduction of a burden on the budget, it says, and give businesses independence in their financial activities. The St Petersburg government points out that it has a "lack of control" over companies in which it does not have a controlling stake. Rossiya is a division of Aeroflot Group, one which was reinforced when it absorbed assets of collapsed carrier Transaero.

Source: FlightGlobal