Jirgin ya ɗauki fasinjoji 167 da ma'aikatan jirgin sama 11 a cikin sa'o'i na farko, kuma 50 daga cikin waɗannan fasinjojin sun sauka a Paris. Sauran jirgin na biyu, daga Paris zuwa Filin jirgin saman London Heathrow, an yi rajista da shi; duk da haka, saboda wani yajin aiki da ma'aikatan British European Airways suka yi, yawancin matafiya da ke zuwa London, waɗanda suka makale a Orly, an yi rajista a kan Flight 981, wanda ya jinkirta tashiwar jirgin da minti 30. Jirgin ya bar Filin jirgin saman Orly da ƙarfe 12:32 na yamma, wanda ya nufi Filin jirgin saman Heathrow, kuma ya tashi a cikin wata hanya mai zurfi, kafin ya juya zuwa arewa. Ba da daɗewa ba bayan Flight 981 ya juya zuwa ƙafafun kafa 230 (m 23,000) a matakin farko, kuma 50 daga cikin waɗannan fasinjoji sun sauka a Paris. An gano cewa an sake buɗe filin jirgin sama a kusa da filin jirgin sama a kusa da filin jirgin sama na biyu, inda aka sake buɗe ƙofar jirgin sama sama sama sama sama da mutane da yawa tare da fararen kaya.
50 da kuma