TUIfly Nordic forced to bribe Mumbai Airport.

[don_salvatore87]

Just read on the swedish newspaper Dagens Industri's website, you can translate it with google Fritidsresor tvingades muta flygplatspersonal (http://di.se/Avdelningar/Artikel.aspx?O=RSS&ArticleId=2010%5C01%5C29%5C369312)

According to the newssite the TUIfly Nordic flight from Sweden to Thailand was not allowed to enter Indian airspace and had to circle over Mumbai until it was forced to make an emergency landing due to low fuel.
The passengers onboard were not allowed to exit the aircraft but had to remain omboard for 7.5 hrs until they with the help of the Swedish embassy were transferred into an airport lounge. Due to the delay and the crew working time limitations a new crew was flown in from Goa. According to the newssite the airline had to bribe the airport authorities 20000$ to be allowed to take off. This is the first time I read something like this. :ooh:

[bereboot]

$20.000 sounds more like a bit of fuel.....................and off course a bit extra for service !

[ab33t]

I was going to say services rendered

[Checkboard]

had to circle over Mumbai sounds like it was already in Indian airspace to me.

[Snoopy]

sounds like it was already in Indian airspace to me.

Good lord, don't let geography get in the way of a good story. :}