Gatwick Airport: Air India passengers stranded on plane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Is it possible that AI were waiting until there was an idea of how long the delay would be? It would be annoying to have the SLF wandering around LGW, and no doubt getting lost, if the aircraft were able to fly on to LHR after only a short delay. The longer the delay actually was, the more human nature would expect it not to be much longer.
Couple that to not having a handling agent at LGW (though someone must have arranged for the fuel, you'd have thought) and I can see how this happened. It doesn't excuse it by any means, but perhaps it's understandable?
I'm certainly no expert, but it seems plausible.
Couple that to not having a handling agent at LGW (though someone must have arranged for the fuel, you'd have thought) and I can see how this happened. It doesn't excuse it by any means, but perhaps it's understandable?
I'm certainly no expert, but it seems plausible.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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I suspect there are issues about passenger records being sent from India to Heathrow.
Issues? What is an issue?
Is it possible that AI were waiting until there was an idea of how long the delay would be? It would be annoying to have the SLF wandering around LGW, and no doubt getting lost, if the aircraft were able to fly on to LHR after only a short delay.
Every Jobsworth at Gatwick must have thought it was his/hers birthday, christmas and lottery win all rolled into one when this AI diverted in.
It was AI's own decision to keep them on the aircraft. Nothing to do with Gatwick employees.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Once they deplaned, surely that would have been it. You've got to feel sorry for the pax though. Sadly, AI has previous, so no great surprises.
You're quite right - everyone hates delays but to actually be more or less where you want to be and not to be allowed to disembark must have been incredibly frustrating. Like the bus driver who won't let you off until he reaches the stop even though there are three buses already queuing at it, only multiplied by a very large number!
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Let's be clear; there was NOTHING, nothing, that did not allow AI to say to passengers
"We do not know the length of the delay, and if you wish to disembark here at Gatwick you may of course do so, and go through immigration at Gatwick. We will have no further responsibility for your onward journey, and your baggage will be available for collection at Heathrow following the arrival of the aircraft there because we are not obliged to deliver it although a decent airline would. Please contact XXXXXXXXX who handle our flights at Heathrow. We are deeply sorry for this abysmal cockup after an unavoidable weather diversion. Please form an orderly queue for the door."
The difference between good and godawful airlines is how they react when things go wrong.
"We do not know the length of the delay, and if you wish to disembark here at Gatwick you may of course do so, and go through immigration at Gatwick. We will have no further responsibility for your onward journey, and your baggage will be available for collection at Heathrow following the arrival of the aircraft there because we are not obliged to deliver it although a decent airline would. Please contact XXXXXXXXX who handle our flights at Heathrow. We are deeply sorry for this abysmal cockup after an unavoidable weather diversion. Please form an orderly queue for the door."
The difference between good and godawful airlines is how they react when things go wrong.
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So it flew on to LHR after 10 hrs on the ground? I think that's what I heard on the BBC. So was it with the original crew? Did they take their rest on the aircraft before flying on? How is that legal in any authority's FCLs?
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Bring back GH in the good old days diverts where great to handle. We had contracts with AI AF SQ to name a few. We where not allowed though to handle the joint SQ/BA Concorde that diverted in from SIA/BAH shame. But load control where checked out on AF w/b for the Concorde. Those where great days that us on the ramp looked forward too. Managed to work both an AI 707 and a Pan-am 727 operating an IGS service in one shift in amongst Laker, Dan-air BIA etc etc......... We could rustle up coaches get pax off and moving asap. We even did it for when our flights diverted away. Got told off for getting two NW 747 loads off to STN by coach before the crews had even been told.
Join Date: Feb 2009
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The Michael Caine Solution?
Some posters here have suggested that any passengers might be tempted to open the doors and deploy the emergency slides to leave the aircraft might be liable to legal action by the airline for malicious damage.
Does that mean that passengers who open doors, emergency exits and deploy slides in an emergency also stand to be sued by the airline?
...and just what constitutes an emergency?
Does that mean that passengers who open doors, emergency exits and deploy slides in an emergency also stand to be sued by the airline?
...and just what constitutes an emergency?
Does that mean that passengers who open doors, emergency exits and deploy slides in an emergency also stand to be sued by the airline?
...and just what constitutes an emergency?
...and just what constitutes an emergency?
As the said aircraft was on English, ahem I mean European ground, one might have thought the provisions of the Human Rights Act might apply to detaining passengers for this long against their will.
Any legal eagles prepared to comment?
Any legal eagles prepared to comment?
Join Date: Sep 2004
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The funny thing is that when the same thing happened to a Qatar A330 at Manchester last year following snow in London it didnt even make the news, guess that was because 1) It wasnt in London 2)There was not a member of the BBC on board.
All given fuel by over hyped crap from the press and people now wanting compo.
All given fuel by over hyped crap from the press and people now wanting compo.