Bag handler breaks at Paris airport; causes luggage pileup, flight delays

With just one year to go before Paris hosts the Olympic Games, one of the city's airports suffered an unprecedented breakdown on Thursday that led to a mountain of luggage piling up and delayed flights.

A breakdown in the luggage-sorting equipment at terminal four of Orly airport meant that baggage had to be handled by hand.

That resulted in many flights leaving late and without the luggage of their passengers on board, according to airport operator ADP and airlines.

Luggage clogged the entrance of the terminal as travellers were told to leave their tagged bags behind.

The breakdown lasted from the start of operations in the morning until shortly before 7pm (1700 GMT).

Airport operator ADP estimated 10,000 passengers on 40 flights were affected.

According to Marc Rochet, head of the French Bee and Air Caraibes airlines using the affected terminal, flights took off with delays between one and three hours -- and without luggage that had been checked in.

"We didn't have another option, otherwise the whole system would be blocked," he told AFP.

The luggage in the terminal will be transferred to a secure hangar and then put on following flights.