Paris Orly Airport descended into chaos after a radar system failure at its control tower forced the cancellation of 130 flights, disrupting travel plans for thousands across Europe.
The breakdown, which occurred early afternoon, led to a “significant failure” in air traffic control systems, according to France’s DGAC civil aviation authority. Roughly 40% of the airport’s daily operations were halted, including both departures and arrivals.
Orly, France’s second-busiest airport, serves over 30 million passengers annually. The disruption left many stranded travelers struggling to find alternative connections to destinations such as Spain, Italy, Austria, and Germany.
A spokesperson for Aéroports de Paris confirmed that half the canceled flights were outbound and half inbound, while replacement options remain limited amid cascading delays across Europe.
Officials have not given a timeline for full restoration, urging passengers to check with airlines before heading to the airport.
