Easyjet passenger plane forced to divert after fireworks near Paris runway

An EasyJet passenger plane travelling from Venice was unable to land at Paris Orly Airport on the evening of April 5 after fireworks were set off near the runway. 

The pilot observed sparks and columns of smoke and decided to circle the airport before landing on an alternate runway, Caliber.Az reports, citing French media.

The airline confirmed that all passengers remained safe and that the fireworks posed no direct threat to the aircraft.

The incident led to the temporary closure of one runway for nearly 90 minutes.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the fireworks were set off by residents of the towns bordering the airport—Ablon-sur-Seine and Villeneuve-le-Roi.

Officials have not yet identified or arrested those responsible.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov