EasyJet Cancels Flight, Won’t Let Passengers Leave the Airport
Jeff Edwards August 21, 2017
After passengers learned that their flight to Germany wouldn’t be taking off until the following day, they were told to remain at the gate until a police escort to the exit became available.
A quirk of security protocols meant that passengers scheduled to board a canceled EasyJet flight from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Hamburg Airport (HAM) not only had their travel plans dashed, but were stuck in the airport until police were made available to walk the stranded flyers out of the terminal. Passengers say that they were held in the airport for nearly four hours before finally being given permission to leave.
“Our flight was canceled without any reason or explanation given,” passenger Kerstin Heuer told The Express. “We did not once see a representative from the airline, nor did they organize any form of accommodation, nor did we get any food or drinks. I was ready to just leave our bags and go, but we were told we had to wait for the police to come and take us out. It felt like we were being held hostage.”
An airport spokesperson told reporters that a police escort became necessary because the passengers scheduled to depart on the canceled flight had already cleared security. The airport confirmed that the somewhat puzzling requirement is a standard security procedure in these circumstances.
The airline blamed the cancellation on a combination of air traffic control issues and a strict arrivals curfew at HAM. EasyJet officials rejected the notion that passengers were left to fend for themselves in this unusual situation.
“This resulted in the flight being unable to depart due to a curfew restriction at Hamburg Airport,” EasyJet told the newspaper in a statement, “Passengers were provided with refreshments whilst we sourced accommodation, however easyJet will reimburse passengers who sourced their own accommodation and pay expenses including transfers and meals. We would like to thank the passengers for their understanding and apologize sincerely for any inconvenience experienced. The rescheduled flight departed at 8.45am on August 19.”
[Photo: Shutterstock]
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If passengers coming of a plane can leave the airport without an escort, then why can't passengers not going on a plane? I've on two occasions gone back after having gone through security. Just followed the signs to the exit. But that was not MAN. This was once at BRU, once at ZRH.
It's Easy Jet. What were you expecting!
Same issue with same airport but to BSL last month! Waited 2 hours I think for an escort and nothing offered at all in terms of refreshments etc.