"We heard people screaming": 50 years ago, a burning plane crashed in Essonne killing 123 people

2023-08-15T06:19:23.671Z

Highlights: The Boeing 707 from Brazil was to land a few minutes later at Orly airport. But a fire broke out in one of them. On board were 117 passengers and 17 crew members. It was hot on Wednesday, July 11, 1973. After almost ten hours of flights, and a stopover in Lisbon (Portugal), the Boeing 77 of the airline Varig from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) is preparing to reach Orly. It is the first time in history that a plane has been forced to land in France.

The Boeing 707 from Brazil was to land a few minutes later at Orly airport. But a fire broke out in one of them.