Passengers claim they thought pilot was “joking” when he stepped out of the cockpit to make the announcement.
A group of passengers were kicked off an easyJet plane because it was “too heavy” to take-off. Holidaymakers heading to Malaga were stunned when the pilot stepped out of the cockpit and told them the aircraft was over weight limits for the runway.
Passengers claimed they were told if people didn’t disembark, all the luggage would need to be left behind at Southend Airport. Kelly Wayand, who was travelling with her mum, disabled dad and partner, said she “couldn’t believe what was happening” and thought it was a joke at first.
Independent travel agent Kelly, 45, added: “It was bizarre, I had never heard anything like it before. The pilot came out of his cockpit and told everyone we couldn’t set off unless six of us got off the plane.
“He said it was either that or we leave all of the luggage behind. I was travelling with my dad, who is disabled, my mum, and my partner, so it would have been hard work for us to get off.”
Although Kelly and her family weren’t able to get off, another group made the sacrifice to allow the flight to go ahead. Kelly said: “Five people got off fairly quickly in around 10 minutes.”
As reported by The Mirror, the five kind flyers who decided to take the hit received a round of applause from their fellow passengers. Carly Mowbray was also on the April 11 flight.
She said: “The people who got off departed to a round of applause from those of us that stayed. The flight crew said they had not experienced it before. There were already 10 empty seats before the extra passengers got off.”
Flight records reveal the aircraft – an Airbus A319 – was scheduled to depart at 8.40am but actually took off at 8.59am. According to Airbus, an A319 has a maximum take-off weight of 75.50 tonnes.
EasyJet released a statement saying: “Five passengers on flight EJU7008 from Southend to Malaga volunteered to travel on alternative flights as a result of the aircraft being over the weight limits for the weather conditions and the short length of the runway. Weight restrictions are in place for all airlines for safety reasons.”
The budget airline added: “The customers were provided with transport and a later flight to Malaga on the same day, free of charge, from London Gatwick and we have been in touch with them to provide the compensation they are entitled to, in line with regulations. The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.”
Under UK261 regulations, passengers who are denied boarding for a medium-haul flight such as between Southend and Malaga are entitled to £175 or £350 compensation, depending on the duration of the delay.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login