AFP | , by Shobhit Gupta
A computer glitch disrupted border controls at Paris’ main Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports on Saturday, causing long queues for passengers.
“A national breakdown of border police currently affects checkpoints at departures and arrivals Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly. An extension of waiting times is expected,” Paris Airport tweeted.
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It was not immediately clear whether other airports or sectors were affected.
Images posted on social media showed large lines of passengers at Paris airport checkpoints, with some sitting on the floor.
The interior ministry told AFP that by 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) the computer system was working again.
A woman traveling from Martinique told AFP she spent nearly two hours standing in line in Orly, where 1,500-2,000 people were not moving at all.
“It’s embarrassing, people are starting to (wilt), especially parents who have children. No one came from the Paris airport to tell us anything,” Anouk, who declined to give his surname, told AFP by telephone.
Later the passengers started banging on the glass doors of the eGates.
Border police officers then open them and check passports manually to reduce overcrowding.
“Everything is being done to make the situation as easy as possible for passengers,” a Paris airport spokesman told AFP. Water is being supplied and officials are on hand to answer passengers’ questions. Has been done.”
