LONDON- An EasyJet (U2) captain aborted the landing of flight EJU4874 at Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, after spotting smoke and fireworks near the threshold of runway 3 during final approach. The flight, arriving from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), was diverted to an alternate runway and landed safely.
The disruption, which occurred at approximately 5:40 PM local time, was traced to a wedding procession near the airport perimeter in Villeneuve-le-Roi, Val-de-Marne. French authorities, including the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA) and the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), have launched a formal investigation into the incident.
Photo: OE-IVU NCE | MSN 7637 A320-214 / A320 / A320-200 EASYJET EUROPE | Flickr
EasyJet Flight Aborts Landing at Orly
As the EasyJet (U2) aircraft made its final descent toward Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), the captain observed flashes of light and smoke close to the ground near the threshold of runway 3, also designated as runway 25.
Reacting immediately, the pilot increased engine power, climbed away from the approach path, and initiated a go-around to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board.
At that point, Orly had runway 4 available, which is normally reserved for takeoffs, and runway 2 was designated for emergencies and exceptional cases.
The EasyJet flight was redirected to runway 4 and landed without incident, while runway 3 remained closed until approximately 7:00 PM local time, roughly 90 minutes after the initial alert.
Air Traffic Controllers closed runway 3 due to the smoke and redirected the aircraft, ensuring passenger safety throughout the process. The airline confirmed the go-around was a standard, precautionary procedure fully in line with operational protocols, LeParisien reported.
Paris Orly Airport; Photo: Arnaud Gaulupeau | Flickr
Wedding Procession Identified as the Source of the Fireworks
Several people were spotted firing fireworks from the corner of Rue Lamartine and Rue du 8-Mai-1945 in Villeneuve-le-Roi, close to the Staf transport company’s warehouses. The location sits near the airport’s boundary, placing the pyrotechnics directly within the flight path corridor.
Investigators traced the fireworks to a wedding procession in Villeneuve-le-Roi, Val-de-Marne, involving fifteen vehicles positioned near the airport’s perimeter.
French media reported that mortar-type fireworks were discharged into the air as part of the celebration, creating the smoke and visual hazard that alarmed the flight crew.
A preliminary investigation indicated that the fireworks were set off by residents of the towns bordering the airport, specifically Ablon-sur-Seine and Villeneuve-le-Roi. Officials have not yet identified or arrested those responsible.
Photo- Pexels
EasyJet Confirms No Projectile Struck the Aircraft
Early reports circulated suggesting that a projectile may have struck the aircraft during the incident. EasyJet moved quickly to address these claims.
EasyJet confirmed that at no point was the aircraft struck by any projectile, and passenger safety was never compromised during the routine procedure.
In its official statement, EasyJet said the captain of flight EJU4874 elected to perform a routine go-around on arrival into Paris-Orly (ORY) due to perceived fireworks in the vicinity of the runway. The airline emphasized that its pilots are extensively trained to execute such manoeuvres when circumstances require, and that the flight landed normally.
Photo: By Laurent ERRERA from L’Union, France – Airbus A320-200 easyJet (EZY) G-EZTH – MSN 3953, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29837760
Aviation and Police Authorities Launch Investigation
The Air Transport Gendarmerie and the French Civil Aviation Authority are investigating the incident, though authorities have not yet identified suspects.
The GTA dispatched a patrol to the area immediately after the incident and obtained video footage from a witness that helped confirm the origin of the fireworks.
The prosecutor’s office noted the presence of a sedan and several individuals firing mortar-type fireworks into the air near the airport boundary.
Firing pyrotechnics in proximity to an active airport approach corridor carries serious legal and safety implications under French aviation law. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify and question those involved.
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