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Paris 2024 Olympics: how is the army preparing to secure the French skies?
In addition to a large police force, the French army will be responsible for ensuring security in the air during the Paris Olympic Games. The France Télévisions teams took part in a helicopter intervention simulation.
(France 2)
In addition to a large police force, the French army will be responsible for ensuring security in the air during the Paris Olympic Games. The France Télévisions teams took part in a helicopter intervention simulation.
At the slightest alert, they take off urgently into the French sky. They escort suspicious planes, neutralize questionable drones and patrol the Ile-de-France sky. How does the military prepare to secure the airspace during Paris Olympics ? On Villacoublay air base 107 (Yvelines), the Parisis squadron is in the middle of a meeting. As the Olympics approach, aerial exercises are increasing.
In a helicopter, France Télévisions plays the role of a malicious device, a private machine that takes off without authorization. Despite reminders, our teams do not respond to air traffic controllers. As an aircraft considered suspicious, we were intercepted by an army helicopter as we approached Paris. After attempting a final radio contact, the snipers draw their weapons in front of the aircraft.
“Firing is extremely rare, it may just mean that the interceptor aircraft is able to carry out a shot”, we are told. Forced to turn around, the army forces us to land. In the event of an imminent or terrorist threat, the decision to open fire rests with the Prime Minister. In total, more than 2,000 aviators will be engaged to ensure air security for the opening ceremony.
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