A routine flight from London to Gibraltar turned into a chaotic ordeal when EasyJet flight EZY8793 was diverted to Málaga on Tuesday due to poor weather conditions. However, what began as a simple weather-related diversion quickly escalated into frustration for the passengers, as many were barred from leaving the plane “due to Brexit.”
Originally bound for Gibraltar, the flight was forced to reroute to Málaga Airport due to adverse weather. According to reports from the Daily Mirror, passengers were informed that they could not disembark because of post-Brexit regulations. Instead, British passengers were told they would remain on board and eventually be transferred onto another flight back to London.
The situation quickly spiralled into chaos as passengers, many of whom had been waiting for hours, expressed confusion and anger. Jay Pedersen, one of the passengers, described the experience as being treated “like hostages.” He recounted how crew repeatedly told passengers buses would arrive within ten minutes to take them to a new flight. However, no transportation ever appeared.
Tensions rise onboard
The frustration reached its peak as some passengers defied the crew’s instructions and left the plane. “It felt like a British mutiny,” Pedersen explained. Around 30 passengers, including one man who identified himself as a doctor and claimed he urgently needed to see a patient, managed to make their way to the terminal despite the crew’s insistence that they remain on board.
Douglas Atkins, another passenger, shared how the doctor’s urgent plea highlighted the tense atmosphere. “He was shouting that he had to get off the plane to see a patient. He was one of the lucky few who managed to leave,” Atkins said.
EasyJet issues apology
In response to the incident, EasyJet released a statement apologising for the inconvenience caused to its passengers. “The safety and well-being of our customers is our top priority, and while this situation was beyond our control, we sincerely apologise for the disruption and discomfort experienced,” the airline said in its official statement.
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