TUI diversion

[Oldjet Jockey]

Just heard on the local radio that an aircraft from Brussels to Dominican republic was delayed on departure for about four hours and then diverted en-route to a Canadian military airfield. Radio says crew have been accommodated in a nearby hotel while passengers are being kept in the military base.

Anyone heard any more on this incident?

OJJ

[Oldjet Jockey]

Latest news claims aircraft was a 767 from Jetair and that engineers have been despatched from Frankfurt to fix the problem. Meanwhile pax dressed for the carribean are rather cold in Canada. Baggage is being kept on the aircraft. Sounds like another pre departure fault not fully fixed before t/o.

OJJ

[Oldjet Jockey]

It seems that the information on this diversion came from a telephone call home from one of the pax who claimed that Jetair would not make any comment. Passengers hope the a/c is fixed for them to continue their journey tomorrow.

Seems strange to me that no-one else seems to have heard about it.

OJJ

[normal_nigel]

Hold the front page.

[LJ.543]

Just for clarity, this aircraft will be from TUI Airlines Belgium. Jetair is the tour operator (also largely owned by TUI). They only have one B767 so there is no backup except possibly from another airline in the TUI group.

[catchup]

9.99 € for a ticket?

[jewitts]

From Belgian Newspaper "Le Soir"

Approximate translation...

Quatorze Hueres de Retard:
After 14 hours delay a Jetair Plane, returning to Brussels from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, will finally take to the air. A technical problem grounded the Boeing at a Canadian military base. The flight will leave finally on Monday after a further 14 hours delay towards the airport of Brussels-National. The plane will be 21 hours delayed landing in Brussels. The flight will be using the Boeing 763 of TUI Airlines which had an emergency landing, Saturday evening, with 252 passengers on board, in a military base in Newfoundland, Canada, following an in-flight technical problem. "Our efforts to find a replacement aircraft came to nothing" indicated Hans Vanhaelemeesch, spokesman of Jetair. "The passengers will have to wait until 22h30 before departing from Canada". "They are accomodated meanwhile in the Sheraton Airport Hotel, where they have all received a voucher for 75 euros." "Jetair ensured that the technical damage was repaired and that the apparatus is absolutely safe."

According to the airport arrivals screen, the flight, TUB8104 from Punta Cana via Montego Bay will arrive tonight (20/9/2005) at 22.55. (the time lines don't seem to add up, maybe the passengers will reveal all tonight!)

[CaptW5]

Which military base would that be? Seeing as most airports used by the military in that part of the country are both civil- and military; and Halifax, St.John's and Gander are all primarily civilian.

[mmeteesside]

they have all received a voucher for 75 euros

Bet that got the pax a long way in Canada :p

mmeteesside