Passengers told 'it's you or your bags'
21.08.08
Passengers on a holiday flight taking off from Newcastle Airport were ejected from their seats – by their own luggage, the Express reports. The 151 passengers on board a flight to Crete were given a bizarre choice by the plane's captain shortly before the flight was due to take off - leave your cases behind and fly, or let your cases fly and follow them out the next day.
Volunteers were initially sought to lighten the weight of the plane. However, as not enough people came forward, the ultimatum was issued just as the flight was boarding. Some passengers decided to delay travelling, but most opted to take the flight after being assured that their luggage would follow within 24 hours. But it took up to 4 days for some of the cases to turn up, leaving the holidaymakers with nothing to wear except the clothes they travelled in.
The fiasco occurred as the plane, a 20-year-old DC 9 aircraft owned by Swedish airline Viking and chartered to tour operator Kosmar XL, was preparing to leave Newcastle Airport for the Greek island at 21:40 on Friday August 1. It eventually took off at 01:30 the next day, but some cases did not arrive until the until Tuesday evening.
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