Air NZ pilot refuses to take off
TVNZ
Air NZ pilot refuses to take off
By OSKAR ALLEY
01 September 2004
More than 100 Air New Zealand passengers were delayed on the tarmac for almost an hour when a pilot refused to take off - because two children were not wearing shoes.
Some passengers complained to cabin staff about the delay on a flight from Christchurch to Wellington on Monday afternoon. The airline has defended the decision not to fly, maintaining that its customers expect a "reasonable standard of dress" and that children without shoes risk possible injury.
The children were believed to be aged about 2 and 4.
Passenger Terry Bach was furious at the delay on flight 454, which was supposed to land at Wellington at 5pm but arrived just before 6pm.
Mr Bach was giving a lecture at Tawa College that evening and arrived more than 30 minutes late.
The 104 passengers could not believe their ears when the pilot used the intercom to tell them the reason for the delay was that the children were not wearing shoes, he said.
"There were a number of people who were incensed and went up and talked to cabin staff. I was sitting right behind the poor family.
"Others were sitting there quietly fuming . . ."
The plane sat on the tarmac as staff unsuccessfully looked in luggage compartments for the family's bags, Mr Bach said.
The children's parents were mortified at causing the delay.
"They looked quite harassed.
"It wasn't their fault. They had nothing on paper to say, `Your child shall have shoes when they board this aircraft'."
The captain eventually agreed to take off when the children put on the socks they had with them, he said.
"I think it's pathetic. They're saying kids should be wearing shoes, when there's other people virtually in bare feet, wearing jandals."
Air New Zealand spokesman Mike Tod confirmed last night that the plane was scheduled to depart at 4.15pm but took off at 4.53pm. He was unable to contact the pilot yesterday to find out what caused the delay, but confirmed an informal dress code and passenger safety were relevant issues.
"In our view, customers expect a reasonable standard of dress, which extends to footwear, when they are travelling on board our aircraft."
Young children had to wear shoes to protect them from "potential injuries", including from the drinks trolley and other passengers' bags.
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