The plane carrying newly sworn in French President Francois Hollande to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been hit by lightning, forcing it to turn back, French media reports say.
Hours after he took the oath as president, Mr Hollande left for Berlin for talks on Europe's economic crisis.
During his inauguration speech, Mr Hollande called for "a compromise" over the German-led focus on austerity.
He called for an emphasis on "growth".
Analysts are watching to see how German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mr Hollande can overcome their differences on how to resolve the crisis.
Stock markets and the euro have fallen amid continuing political uncertainty in Greece.
The chairman of the group of eurozone finance ministers, Jean-Claude Juncker, insisted on Monday that they would do "everything possible" to keep Greece in the euro.
'Message of confidence'
Mr Hollande was sworn in for a five-year term at the Elysee Palace in Paris, becoming France's first Socialist president in 17 years.
In his inauguration speech, Mr Hollande said he wished to deliver a "message of confidence".
"My mandate is to bring France back to justice, open up a new path in Europe, contribute to world peace and preserve the planet."
The new president said he was fully aware of challenges facing France, which he summarised as "huge debt, weak growth, reduced competitiveness, and a Europe that is struggling to emerge from a crisis".






