'Nightmare' delay flight departs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tyne/6654211.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Passengers stuck on board a grounded plane for nearly eight hours have now flown out of the UK.

Police were called to Newcastle Airport on Sunday to calm the situation on the Flyjet plane, bound for the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The journey was eventually cancelled and over 200 people were put up in a hotel overnight to await a second flight on Monday.

It finally departed shortly before 1100 BST - an hour later than scheduled.

The crew wouldn't let anyone off and we were told if we tried to leave the plane we would be arrested for going on the tarmac Passenger Layla Nugent

Newcastle Airport has promised a full review into the incident.

The flight was due to take off at 1200 BST on Sunday, but missed its slot due to a technical problem.

Holidaymakers waited on the plane while it was fixed, but once it was ready to go a discrepancy in the passenger numbers was spotted.

All the baggage was taken off and passengers had to identify each piece of luggage, until it was established that everybody was present.

'Absolute nightmare'

Then a holidaymaker became ill and was taken to hospital with stomach pains.

Northumbria Police based at the airport were called on board after cabin crew became concerned for their safety, but there were no arrests.

The flight was cancelled at 1950 BST, nearly eight hours after it was due to take off.

Layla Nugent, 31, from Newcastle, was travelling with her partner and two young children, said that the experience had been "an absolute nightmare".

Cabin crew concerned for their safety alerted police

Speaking from the check-in queue on Monday morning, she said: "The crew wouldn't let anyone off and we were told if we tried to leave the plane we would be arrested for going on the tarmac.

"When we got off the police said the cabin crew were in fear of their lives but, in my eyes, everyone was perfectly well-behaved.

"People were annoyed but there were no riots."

Newcastle Airport said in a statement: "We were very disappointed to learn of the experience suffered by passengers booked on this flight, which was unacceptable.

"We fully understand the anger and frustration felt by those who have had their holiday plans disrupted.

"Managers at Newcastle International Airport will be speaking to the airline and handling agent Servisair in order to conduct a full review of the circumstances leading up to yesterday's cancellation, and the way in which our customers were treated."