An EasyJet plane refused to take off until five passengers left because it was too heavy to fly on April 11. When the aircraft was on the tarmac at London Southend Airport (SEN), the pilot made a surprise announcement, informing the cabin that the plane was too heavy to safely takeoff.
EasyJet Aircraft too heavy causes five passengers to disembark
The incident occurred on flight U2 7008 on April 11, and said it was to prevent a possible incident, describing safety as the highest priority.
An EasyJet spokesman told The Mirror:
“Five passengers on flight EJU7008 from Southend to Malaga on Saturday volunteered to travel on alternative flights as a result of the aircraft being over the weight limits for the weather conditions and short runway. Weight restrictions are in place for all airlines for safety reasons.”
Five customers disembarked from the airplane as per orders from the pilot as the spokesperson comments:
“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 five who volunteered managed to catch another flight the same day to Malaga. A passenger describing the scene, Carly Mowbray, had stated;
“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.”
The decision to reduce weight is down to physics and environmental factors that can narrow the chances for a safe departure. Especially at airports like Southend that have shorter runways. The weight of a plane is based on numerous factors including air density and wind conditions.
Flight records reveal the aircraft, an Airbus A319, was scheduled to depart at 8:40 a.m., but it left at 8:59 a.m.; the delay was around 12 minutes. EasyJet confirms that a similar incident occurred on an EasyJet flight on the same route back in 2014. The responsibility falls on airlines and passengers to negotiate how passengers who voluntarily choose not to travel on their booked flight get compensated.
Have you ever been in a situation where your flight was delayed due to how heavy the aircraft was? Comment down below and tell us your thoughts, follow us to keep up to date with aviation news!
Aviation Reporter - A driven media professional and aspiring magazine journalist and self-published author, with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing from Oxford Brookes University. Inspired by writers such as Maya Angelou, they balance professional work alongside personal projects, maintaining a strong commitment to creative independence through their podcast and blogs.
