Details are still sketchy at this point, but it’s been established that an issue with the landing gear forced the crew into a very difficult decision. The plane wheel failed to retract, and completing the journey proved to be too risky.
Passengers were informed of the ‘air scare’ before they touched down again, but in spite of the faulty landing gear, the pilot managed to get the aircraft down safely. However, the ordeal didn’t end there for those onboard.
A series of delays – and a customer support service that allegedly leaves a lot to be desired – meant that those initially set for a 9:00 flight had to wait until GONE 18:00 for the next available seats.
Indeed, the issues continued to pile-up once the malfunctioning plane was back on the ground. Thabiso Tema, a passenger who experienced both the ‘nerve-wracking landing’ and the questionable response from the airline, shared his grievances on Twitter – needless to say, this wasn’t an ideal way to spend a Sunday:
“After nearly being off-loaded for ‘being late’, our flight from East London to Joburg had to turn back because of an issue with the landing gear. You can imagine how nerve-wracking the landing was…”
“[We were informed] about twenty minutes in to the flight. Turns out the landing gear wouldn’t go up. There’s no spare aircraft available and the next available flight is at 18:00. But wait there’s more…there are only 34 seats open on that one!”
Thabiso Tema, British Airways passenger
- Mandle Mgebeja, also onboard, told EWN about the chaotic situation
“When we landed, they told us to stay on, and they wanted to check what the problem was. Then they found out the problem couldn’t be fixed at the moment and that we needed to get out of the plane. How come they didn’t inspect the plane before it departed.”
Mandla Mqebeja, British Airways passenger
The South African
Share on Facebook «||»
Share on Twitter «||»
Share on Reddit «||»
Share on LinkedIn
British Airways IT Failure Causes Widespread Flight Cancellations and Delays, Disrupting Half-Term Holiday Travel Plans: …By Lola Smith for TDPel Media. The plans of thousands of families during the half-term holiday were thrown into disarray when British Airways canceled at...
British Passenger Arrested for Assault on Thai Airways Flight from Bangkok to Heathrow: Shocking footage has emerged showing a man assaulting an air steward on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Heathrow. The incident, which occurred on...
Kenya Airways and South African Airways Forge Expanded Codeshare for Direct South America Routes: Expanding Codeshare: South America Bound Kenya Airways (KQ) and South African Airways (SAA) have broadened their codeshare agreement to facilitate direct flights from South Africa...
Massive Emergency Response at Stansted Airport as Kenya Airways Flight Diverted: Massive Emergency Response at Stansted Airport A significant emergency response is currently underway at Stansted Airport, triggered by the diversion of a Kenya Airways flight...
British Airways Apologizes as IT Issue Sparks Cancellations and Delays, Passengers Brace for Holiday Weekend Chaos: …By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media. British Airways has issued an apology following an IT problem that resulted in the cancellation of domestic and European...
British Airways Pilots Hospitalized After Inhaling Noxious Odor in Cockpit: In-Flight Emergency A British Airways captain and first officer found themselves in a harrowing situation when they breathed in a foul odor in the cockpit...
Commercial Flights, Including Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, Reach Supersonic Speeds Over the Weekend: Passengers on board commercial flights this weekend witnessed an extraordinary journey as freak winds, driven by the powerful jet stream, propelled their planes to speeds...
Survey Reveals British Airways Among Bottom-Ranked Airlines for Punctuality and Service: British Airways, once proudly proclaimed as ‘the world’s favourite airline,’ finds itself among the lowest-ranked carriers, according to a recent survey by consumer champion Which?...
Former Salon Owner Finds Wings as British Airways Inflight Manager Inspired by Daughter’s Cabin-Crew Career: Christine Barnes, a 66-year-old former salon owner and hairdresser, shares her remarkable journey from running a salon to managing an inflight team on the Airbus...
British Airways Racism Scandal – Stewardess Accused of Mocking Asian Passengers in Viral TikTok Video: Recent events involving the dismissal of two British Airways stewardesses, Holly Walton and Lauren Bray, have sparked controversy and raised questions about the authenticity of...