Paris airport chaos resumes on second day after air traffic breakdown

An air traffic control malfunction at Paris-Orly airport on Sunday caused the cancellation of about 130 flights, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers, Arab News reported. The breakdown, reportedly due to a radar failure, affected flights to European, North African, and domestic French destinations. Many passengers were left stranded either on planes or in terminals, facing long queues and limited alternatives.

The French civil aviation authority (DGAC) announced that the issue remained unresolved late Sunday and requested airlines reduce flight schedules by 15% on Monday, warning of continued delays. DGAC stated the situation was improving but still required traffic regulation.

Passengers described being disembarked from planes and struggling to find replacement flights, with some forced to abandon travel plans due to high costs and limited availability. Orly, France’s second-largest airport, handled around 33 million passengers last year, about half of Paris Charles de Gaulle’s volume. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in air traffic control systems and its impact on airport operations and travelers.