EasyJet forces 19 passengers off flight 'because it was too heavy to take off’

Over a dozen passengers had to get off a plane because it was 'too heavy' to get off the runway.

Travellers packed onto an EasyJet flight at Lanzarote's Arrecife Airport ahead of their trip to John Lennon Airport in Liverpool at 9.45pm on 5 July.

However, moments before they were due to take off, the pilot announced that there was a bit of a problem.

And rather than heading straight home, a few people would have to stay behind.

In a video shared by one of the passengers on board, the pilot can be heard explaining that the weather conditions, combined with the huge weight of the aircraft, meant they wouldn't be able to take off as planned.

"Thank for for getting here today," they're heard saying. "Because there are so many of you it's a pretty heavy aircraft.

Reach

"That heavy aircraft combined with a pretty short runway and with the current unfavourable conditions here in Lanzarote, means the aircraft is too heavy to take off. I've been sat with my senior first officer and we're very experienced with this and have done this before.

"With safety as our number one priority, there is no way, with the current wind conditions, that we could get this aircraft airborne. There are a number of factors - it's very hot, the wind isn't fantastic, the direction isn't great.

"Now, you might be wondering what happens next and that's what I've come in here to say. I have spoken with our operations team and the one way to solve a problem with a heavy aircraft is to make it slightly lighter.

"If possible, I would like to ask up to 20 volunteers to choose not to fly to Liverpool tonight. If anyone wants to volunteer there will be an incentive. The current number we've been quoted by easyJet is up to €500 per passenger who is willing to not fly tonight."

Understandably, some people weren't too impressed with the news, with someone heard saying: "I want to go home tonight."

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However, the crew managed to find 19 people willing to give up their places, and the flight ended up leaving at 11.30pm.

A spokesperson for the airline told LADbible: "EasyJet can confirm that 19 passengers on flight EZY3364 from Lanzarote to Liverpool yesterday evening volunteered to travel on a later flight as a result of the aircraft being over the weight limits for the weather conditions.

"This is a routine operational decision in these circumstances and weight restrictions are in place for all airlines for safety reasons.

“In the event that a flight would exceed weight limits, we ask for passengers to volunteer to transfer to a later flight free of charge which is what happened on this occasion and volunteers are provided with compensation in line with regulations.

“The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.”