An easyJet Airbus A320 on the tarmac at Paris Orly Airport — symbolising the recent collision with a lorry that caused major delays for UK travellers.
Credit : Shutterstock, Phuong D. Nguyen
Passengers hoping to jet off from Paris Orly on Monday were met with unexpected delays after a ground vehicle collided with an easyJet aircraft.
The incident unfolded within the early morning hours when a service lorry struck a parked Airbus A320, sparking concern and a full investigation.
Images from the scene show the lorry’s windscreen completely smashed, while the easyJet plane — thankfully empty on the time — sustained enough damage to be pulled from service. The 15-year-old aircraft was parked with no crew or passengers onboard when the accident occurred.
easyJet confirmed the incident, stating: “An airport vehicle struck an aircraft at Paris Orly while it was parked overnight. No passengers were onboard. The aircraft will now undergo inspections and repairs according to manufacturer instructions.”
Flight cancellations and expensive damage after Orly crash
According to reports, the aircraft was scheduled to finish as much as six flights throughout the day. However, as a consequence of the crash, the plane stays grounded pending rigorous safety checks — causing a ripple effect of delays and forcing the airline to redraw flight plans.
An insider described the situation as “a significant incident,” telling British media that the airline faces a repair bill more likely to exceed £100,000. Emergency services responded quickly, and the airline launched an internal investigation to find out how the incident occurred.
Early reports suggest that the lorry driver can have mistakenly hit the accelerator as an alternative of the brake, but this has yet to be officially confirmed.
UK travellers face second major transport disruption in every week
This mishap comes just days after one other transport-related incident disrupted journeys near Gatwick Airport, where a vehicle struck a railway bridge, resulting in widespread rail delays. Network Rail reminded the general public that any suspected damage to infrastructure ought to be reported immediately, either via the number listed on bridge ID plates or, in urgent cases, to the police.
For now, travellers flying from Paris Orly are advised to envision with their airlines for the most recent updates and permit time beyond regulation for airport procedures as investigations proceed.
