Busted 380 gone home

[Mateo]

Heard AFR397V on the ATC feed this afternoon. Knowing they use that number as a ferry flight, I looked it up on today's ACARS, and sure enough, it's F-HPJD gone home. When I saw it on the 15th, the mx crew had taken the whole winglet off. Did they put a new one on, or just seal up the wingtip and will do the big repair back in France?

[Zee71]

I was listening to ATC this afternoon as well, and when I heard Air France super cleared for take-off 22R, I had a feeling the damaged A380 was heading back home. Would have liked to catch that flight departing.

[heeshung]

I was at JFK until around 16:30 today; the A380 had not moved when I left.

[gonzalu]

From what I shot of it, they seem to have replaced the entire top of the wing, front spoiler, winglet, etc.

[Mateo]

Departed 1716L.