Passengers stuck on plane for eight hours

Posted 17/10/2011

Passengers were stuck on a plane at Gatwick airport for more than eight hours after fog caused their flight to be diverted.

The Air India flight was on its way from Mumbai to Heathrow when the weather conditions forced it to divert at 8am, reports the BBC.

But despite being only 20 minutes from their destination, passengers had to stay on the plane being fed crisps and coke until after 4pm when they left for Heathrow.

One passenger, Mark Shorey, said passengers were given a note of apology by the airline when they got off the plane at Heathrow, but that he was not satisfied with the response.

"I don't understand why we were diverted then not allowed to leave. I felt I was already home, I was in London, I didn't mind the extra hassle of coming from Gatwick into London," he said.

A spokesman for the Gatwick airport said the airline had to wait for a new crew before it could complete its journey.

Sussex police were called to the flight to prevent a breach of the peace as tempers among passengers flared.

By Diane Evans
 

Originally published 17 Oct 2011 at: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/398/f/5923/s/195616d2/l/0L0Stravelmole0N0Cstories0C11498180Bphp0Dmpnlog0F1/story01.htm