On Sunday (May 18), the air traffic control system at Paris Orly Airport in France experienced a malfunction, resulting in the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights and affecting thousands of passengers. The French Civil Aviation Authority stated that due to the malfunction not being completely resolved, the chaotic situation at Orly Airport would continue until Monday (May 19).
According to various media reports, the tower malfunction at Paris’s second busiest aviation gateway, Orly Airport, occurred on Sunday afternoon, prompting the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) to immediately initiate strict measures, requiring airlines to cancel the remaining flights for the day.
A spokesperson for Aeroports de Paris, the company operating the airport, stated that around 130 flights (about 40% of the daily flight volume) were canceled on that day, with roughly half being departures and the others arrivals, in addition to numerous flights experiencing delays.
The malfunction resulted in thousands of passengers being affected, with some already boarded on flights. The impact extended beyond domestic flights in France to international flights heading to various destinations in Europe and North Africa.
Following the malfunction, affected passengers were seen queuing up in the terminal building, frantically searching for alternative means of transportation.
As of late Sunday, the issue had not been completely resolved. According to reports from Agence France-Presse, the French Civil Aviation Authority has “asked airlines to reduce the number of takeoffs and landings by 15% for Monday” and warned that “flight delays are expected.”
The French Civil Aviation Authority posted messages on social media platform X, reminding passengers to be aware of flight cancellations and delays. The agency informed French radio station that they are working diligently to address the problems and stabilize the flight operations at Orly Airport as soon as possible.
The French Civil Aviation Authority attributed this incident to a “malfunction” in the tower air traffic control system. Meanwhile, representatives from Paris Orly Airport stated that the reason for the airport chaos was a “radar malfunction.”
Orly Airport is the second largest airport in Paris. According to data provided by the Paris airport operator, the number of passengers arriving and departing at Orly Airport last year was approximately 33 million, roughly half of the traffic volume at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport.