On 16 September 2001 the French press reported slightly higher than acceptable radioactivity levels aboard '' Charles de Gaulle '' , thought to be caused by a faulty isolation element . It was later discovered that the radioactivity levels matched the design , but that the regulations concerning acceptable radioactivity levels had changed . While the United States was preparing its response to the September 11 attacks in the form of Operation Enduring Freedom , French media complained about the lack of deployable French military power . At the same time , the Defence Commission reported the maintenance of the Fleet to be substandard . In this context , '' Charles de Gaulle '' , then under repairs , was again an object of criticism , with former President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing describing it as a " half-aircraft-carrier " and requesting launching of the second carrier vessel ( named PA2 ) in order to guarantee an availability rate of 100 %
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle