Montpellier – France, 20 May 2025
In the early hours of Tuesday, 20 May 2025, an incident of suspected arson occurred at Airways Aviation France | ESMA, located at Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport (IATA: MPL ICAO: LFMT). The perpetrators unlawfully gained access to a secure apron area within the airport grounds and attempted to set fire to an entire fleet of training aircraft.
As a result, three Diamond DA42 aircraft were completely destroyed. The extent of damage to other aircraft is currently underassessment. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
The Montpellier Police have swiftly cordoned off the affected area, which is now being treated as a crime scene. Authorities are actively reviewing security footage and have commenced a full investigation into the incident.
Due to the breach of airport security, the attack constitutes a federal offence. A specialist investigation team from Paris is being dispatched to support local authorities in identifying and prosecuting those responsible.
This criminal act is expected to impact ongoing training operations. The management team at Airways Aviation Montpellier is working diligently to mitigate disruption and ensure continuity of service where possible.
“This is a disturbing and unacceptable act of planned sabotage that strikes at the heart of our aviation community. While we are relieved that no one was injured, the destruction of our aircraft will have severe consequences on our operations, and it is a personal blow to our dedicated team. We are fully cooperating with authorities and will take every measure necessary to ensure the future safety and security of our people and assets.” said Romy Hawatt, Founder and Chairman of Airways Aviation Group.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
