EasyJet Leaves 19 Passengers Stranded on Runway Due to ‘Overweight’ Flight

British airline EasyJet left 19 passengers on the runway as the flight reportedly became ‘too heavy’ to take off. According to a report by Manchester Evening News, the EasyJet flight from Spain’s Lanzarote airport to Liverpool’s John Lennon airport was scheduled to depart at 9:45 pm (local time) on Wednesday. However, the departure was delayed due to the heavy weight of the aircraft.

The pilot explained that the heavy aircraft, combined with the short runway and unfavorable weather conditions, posed significant constraints for takeoff. In a video, the pilot expressed gratitude to the passengers for their presence and acknowledged that the large number of passengers made the aircraft quite heavy. He stated that these factors, along with the current unfavorable conditions in Lanzarote, made it impossible for the aircraft to take off.

To resolve the situation, the pilot proposed a solution to lighten the aircraft’s load. He requested up to 20 volunteers to choose not to fly to Liverpool that night. In return, EasyJet offered an incentive of €500 per passenger willing to forgo the flight. However, the passengers were not impressed by the airline’s offer or the perceived lack of preparedness. Consequently, 19 passengers ultimately agreed to stay at the airport, as reported.