An easyJet aircraft at Paris Orly Airport was struck by a ground support truck during the early hours of March 31, 2025, resulting in significant damage to the plane and multiple flight disruptions. Fortunately, the Airbus A320 was parked overnight with no passengers on board, and no injuries were reported. The collision shattered the windshield of the truck, which was a bright yellow Scania, and left a dent across the fuselage of the aircraft.
Images circulating on social media depicted the truck wedged underneath the aircraft, with the driver's cab bent in the middle. According to reports from The Sun, the incident occurred during a night stop, leading to immediate inspections and necessary repairs for the affected aircraft, following the manufacturer’s guidelines.
EasyJet confirmed the incident in a statement, emphasizing that safety remains their top priority. "EasyJet can confirm that an airport truck hit an aircraft at Paris Orly airport while it was parked overnight and no passengers were onboard. The aircraft will undergo the required inspections and repairs in line with manufacturer instructions," the airline stated.
The collision has resulted in the grounding of the aircraft, which was scheduled to complete six flights on April 1, 2025. As a consequence, easyJet has had to rebook passengers onto alternative flights where possible. The airline is currently assessing the operational disruptions caused by this incident.
This incident at Orly Airport is not an isolated case. On February 11, 2025, a GOL Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737 MAX 8 was involved in a similar collision with an airport vehicle during takeoff procedures at Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport. The flight, G31674, was accelerating for departure to Fortaleza when it struck a vehicle positioned on the active runway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in that incident either.
In this recent case, the flight crew immediately aborted the takeoff after the impact, and emergency response teams arrived promptly. The control tower was informed of the situation, and it was confirmed that the airport vehicle had received clearance to cross the runway before the aircraft's takeoff roll. However, the vehicle's delayed exit contributed to the incident.
The incident at Orly Airport comes amidst a series of travel disruptions at major European airports. On March 25, 2025, a vehicle struck a railway bridge near Gatwick Airport, leading to significant delays as Network Rail engineers conducted inspections. A spokesperson from National Rail advised travelers to report any bridge strikes using identification plates attached to structures.
Additionally, Gatwick Airport experienced an evacuation on March 30, 2025, following a fire alarm that caused panic among travelers. Social media reports suggested that a passenger may have opened an emergency exit door to vape, although airport authorities denied this claim. The evacuation concluded by 8:30 a.m., with normal operations resuming shortly afterward.
Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport faced major disruptions on March 21, 2025, when a fire at the North Hyde Electricity Substation in Hayes, West London, led to power outages affecting approximately 100,000 homes. Although Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, managed to restore power within hours, the impact on flight schedules lasted throughout the day.
Reflecting on the easyJet incident, sources have expressed shock at how such a collision could occur at a major airport. One source remarked, "It happened first thing and everyone is in shock. It’s baffling how this happened." The incident is expected to leave a bill exceeding £100,000 for repairs and operational disruptions.
In a similar vein, a previous incident at Stansted Airport in October 2023 involved a passenger assistance vehicle colliding with a Ryanair plane that had 103 passengers and six crew members onboard. An investigation indicated that the crash may have been caused by the vehicle driver being tired and distracted, as evidenced by CCTV footage showing no obvious glances towards the aircraft before the collision.
As the investigation into the easyJet incident continues, airport authorities and airline officials are working together to determine the cause and prevent such occurrences in the future. Passengers and travelers are advised to stay updated on flight schedules and potential disruptions following the incident.
EasyJet and other airlines are likely to face increased scrutiny regarding ground operations and safety protocols to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. With travel disruptions becoming more frequent, both airlines and airport authorities must prioritize safety and efficiency to restore passenger confidence.
As the aviation industry continues to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, incidents like these serve as a reminder of the challenges that still lie ahead. Passengers are encouraged to remain patient and informed as airlines navigate these operational hurdles.
