Flight diverts after passenger revolt

By Jayne Atherton, Metro

Last updated at 07:56 11 November 2004


After a peaceful couple of weeks in the Mediterranean sun, the only thing holidaymakers wanted was a stress-free flight home.

Instead, they were forced to stage a revolt after being told their flight from Crete was being diverted.

The captain was preparing to take off from the Greek island when he announced that the 290-seat Excel Airways plane was bound for Gatwick instead of Manchester.

Passengers ignored requests to sit down and fasten seat-belts as they demanded an explanation from the crew. Flight A2141 was grounded for an hour until the airline backed down and agreed to send the Boeing 767 to Manchester as planned.

One passenger said: 'A few of us stood up and said we wanted to go home. We were calm and it was a peaceful protest.'

Another said: 'There was no way we were going to let them go to Gatwick. Thankfully, the crew listened to common sense.'

Excel Airways said the diversion was suggested because the crew were nearing the end of their maximum allotted flying time.

The Gatwick-based aircraft was picking up passengers at Heraklion airport after an outbound flight from Manchester. A spokesman said: 'It was difficult to tell people until they were on the plane.'

Under aviation law, if a flight is diverted the airline must get people to the airport on their ticket at no extra cost. The only exception is in case of war.

A carrier may arrange buses or ask passengers to take a train and send in a receipt to be reimbursed. People are unlikely to get compensation if an airline offers a bus but they choose to travel by other means.

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