The dream school trip to Athens turned into a fiasco for CM2 and 6th grade students. On Monday, May 27, the students took off as planned from Paris-Orly airport on Transavia flight TO3520 at 9 a.m. However, after two hours of flight, a technical problem forced the plane to turn back to Paris. According to Isaac, a 6th grade student, the pilot announced that the issue was irreparable in Athens.
Parents were informed by the school that the plane had to return around 12:30 p.m. due to a crack in the windshield, leading to a high risk of cabin depressurization. This issue necessitated a return to Paris instead of continuing towards Athens as planned. Transavia confirmed the technical problem but did not provide further details.
Back at Orly, the passengers waited for two hours and received 5 euro vouchers for lunch before boarding a second plane. Unfortunately, this aircraft also experienced a technical problem, specifically engine damage detected during pre-flight checks. As a result, the passengers had to disembark and wait for another plane, during which drinks were provided.
The students and other passengers were then placed on a third plane, which also faced delays. Eventually, the teaching team decided to cancel the school trip, and the students had to wait almost an hour before they could collect their luggage. Transavia attributed the delay in unloading baggage to the need to properly identify all the concerned items.
The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Air France-KLM, confirmed that the new flight took off at 7:50 p.m. from Paris-Orly, but without the students. The experience left many students terrified, and some parents expressed their anger at the organization's negligence. Isaac described how he and his friends were terrified, many having nightmares afterward.
Transavia offered an apology in a press release and promised a refund of return tickets and compensation of 400 euros per person to the affected passengers. European regulations mandate such reimbursement and compensation for flights delayed over three hours within the European Union. However, this was little consolation for the school group whose trip was aborted.
- The trip was intended to provide an educational experience for the students by exploring historical sites in Athens. The students and teachers had prepared for weeks for this journey.
- For some of the students, this was their first time flying, and the series of unfortunate events significantly affected their perception of air travel. The school is considering organizing another trip to compensate for the lost opportunity.
