Paris-Houston flight turns around after mysterious mobile found

An Air France flight from Houston to Paris was obliged to turn around and return to Houston on Tuesday after a mobile phone whose owner could not be identified was found on board.

Reuters/Marcus R Donner

The Boeing 707-200 – flight AF 639 carrying 228 passengers and 15 crew - turned around after 30 minutes of flight, landing at Houston at 6.30 pm local time after the phone was discovered.

The passengers’ safety was never in danger, according to an Air France spokesperson who said that the plane took off again after security checks by the American authorities.

But the company has no further information on the mobile, which was handed over to US officials.

The plane, which was due to arrive at Paris Charles De Gaulle airport at 8.34 am Wednesday, was rescheduled to arrive at 1.29 pm, five hours late.