Passengers on a Ryanair flight in Greece were left behind as the aircraft departed for the UK without them. The incident occurred on a flight from Athens to London Luton, with an estimated 20 to 50 passengers missing the departure.
Ryanair attributed the situation to border delays, while the airport cited congestion due to “additional processing requirements.” Reports indicated long queues at security and passport control, with one witness describing a chaotic scene with passengers pleading to board.
Airport authorities stepped in to manage the situation as some passengers expressed frustration. A spokesperson acknowledged the congestion at passport control, attributing it to high passenger volumes and additional processing for non-Schengen destinations.
The airline faced criticism on social media for leaving passengers behind. Ryanair responded, stating that delays caused by border control at Athens airport led to some passengers missing the boarding time. However, the passengers present at the gate boarded the flight without issues.
Greece has reversed its decision to exempt British travelers from the EU’s new biometric border checks. All non-EU visitors, including UK passport holders, will now undergo the Entry/Exit System registration this summer. The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed the change, emphasizing equal treatment for all nationalities.
Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni assured that visitors would be expedited through the system, with entry and exit procedures expected to take only a minute. The government aims to streamline the process to avoid bureaucratic hurdles for travelers.
