A recent incident at Orly Airport in Paris has disrupted air traffic following a wedding convoy that sparked mortar fire. On April 5, around 5:40 PM, an EasyJet flight from Venice was cleared for landing when the pilot noticed small explosions and smoke near the runway. These pyrotechnic displays originated from a wedding celebration taking place near the intersection of Rue Lamartine and Rue du 8-Mai-1945 in Villeneuve-le-Roi, Val-de-Marne.
Flight Emergency and Quick Response
Upon seeing the explosions, the pilot immediately aborted the landing procedure to ensure passenger safety. The aircraft ascended rapidly to avoid further danger. According to EasyJet, the plane was not hit by any projectiles. After circling over Essonne and parts of Seine-et-Marne, the flight safely landed on an alternate runway.
Air Traffic Control Actions
In response to the situation, air traffic controllers closed Runway 3 for safety reasons. Only Runway 4 was left open for the EasyJet flight, which landed without incident soon after.
- Time of Incident: April 5, around 5:40 PM
- Location: Orly Airport, Paris
- Flight: EasyJet from Venice
Investigation into Mortar Fire
The local aviation police were notified and deployed to investigate the source of the shots. A video recovered from a witness confirmed that the mortar fire was part of a wedding convoy consisting of about fifteen vehicles, including several quads. The inquiry will determine whether the participants realized the potential danger their fireworks posed to low-flying aircraft during the wedding celebration.
Safety Assurance
EasyJet emphasized that at no point was the safety of the passengers compromised. The trained pilots followed established procedures, successfully managing the emergency landing.
The airport runway remained closed until 7 PM as investigations continued. Authorities are still working to identify those responsible for the mortar fire.
