Passengers aboard an EasyJet flight were shocked when the pilot announced that five individuals needed to disembark from the plane before it could take off. The incident occurred during a flight from Southend Airport to Malaga on April 11. The pilot explained that the aircraft was too heavy and threatened to leave luggage behind if the weight issue was not resolved.
One passenger, Kelly Wayand, expressed disbelief at the situation, initially thinking it was a joke. The pilot made it clear that six passengers had to leave or all luggage would be left behind, prompting five individuals to voluntarily exit the plane within ten minutes.
Another passenger, Carly Mowbray, shared that those who left received applause from the remaining passengers. The flight eventually departed with 10 empty seats, taking off at 8.59am instead of the scheduled 8.40am time. The Airbus A319 aircraft involved has a maximum take-off weight of 75.50 tonnes.
EasyJet later clarified that five passengers volunteered to switch to alternative flights due to weight restrictions caused by weather conditions and the runway’s short length. The affected passengers were accommodated on later flights to Malaga from London Gatwick at no extra cost, with compensation provided as per regulations.
According to UK261 regulations, passengers denied boarding on medium-haul flights like this one may be entitled to compensation ranging from £175 to £350, depending on the delay duration.
