ECCM,
Nearly accurate but not quite. In fact the flight, after a technical delay, was boarded and once complete the crew were advised by the handling agent that they were one missing.
It transpired that the missing women had been told, by the boyfriend, to "f-off" in the terminal and so she left. The boyfriend didn't bother to tell anyone that he was travelling alone and by the time this all came to light the crew were out of hours to depart.
The police were asked to be in attendence to monitor the situation, nothing else.
Slots had nothing to do with the delay. The crew ran out of hours having used their maximum discretion.
[ 17 August 2001: Message edited by: takeoffallgreen ]