Some passengers were retained over a night after the airport air traffic controllers finished their shift without waiting for the plane to take off. The incident occurred on Saturday night, when the RK3209 flight, which departed from Malaga to Manchester, was forced to land at Spanish airport due to a medical emergency on board.
During the flight, a person suffered from health problems, leading the commander to divert the route to ensure medical care. The plane landed in Bilbau, where the passenger was landed and sent to a hospital unit. The situation took place without incidents, and the plane was replenished to resume the trip to Manchester.
The impossibility of traveling
However, when the crew was preparing to take off, he was informed that air traffic controllers had already abandoned their duties. According to those responsible at the airport, the flight plan exceeded the airport’s operating hours, which prevented the authorization for takeoff.
The decision picked up the passengers by surprise. Many expected to be able to travel as soon as the medical problem had been resolved, but were eventually informed that they would have to spend the night in Bilbau. According to passenger reports, Ryanair informed them that they could organize their own stay and later request the reimbursement of expenses.
The airline said it tried to find accommodation for travelers, but room availability was reduced that night. Thus each passenger had to manage his stay until the flight could leave the next day.
Passenger rights and impact of delay
Due to the mandatory crew rest rules, the plane only managed to take off from Bilbau at 1:01 pm on Sunday, about 14 hours after expected. The delay generated frustration among passengers, who missed support during the waiting time.
A spokesman for Aen, an entity that manages Bilbau airport, explained that the flight was prevented from departing because its offspring exceeded the limits of the airport’s operating hours. This situation happens when a flight cannot obtain authorization within the permitted period, forcing a resettlement.
Affected passengers may be entitled to reimbursement and compensation, depending on the European rules for travelers’ rights. These rules provide that, in case of forced night, airlines are responsible for providing accommodation, meals and transport between the airport and the hotel.
However, according to the application of these rules depends on several factors, including the existence of representation of the airline at the affected airport. If the company does not have a team on site, passengers may have to pay their expenses and apply for reimbursement later.
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The airline’s response
Ryanair, in statements about the incident, stressed that it notified passengers about the situation and offered information on how to proceed. However, he acknowledged that the availability of accommodation was limited, which made it difficult to provide direct support.
For passengers, the experience was marked by uncertainty and the lack of immediate responses. Many expected a faster solution to avoid a long wait in a city where they had not planned staying overnight.
Aviation experts indicate that this type of situations can happen at airports with restrictions. Some aerial infrastructures have fixed times for operations, which can lead to unexpected delays when a flight needs to break out of this period.
To avoid similar situations in the future, some experts suggest that airlines should ensure contingency plans that allow immediate assistance to passengers in case of unforeseen events.
The story of this Ryanair flight raises questions about the flexibility of air services, especially in emergency situations. If the controllers had remained in service for a few more minutes, the takeoff would have been possible and the flight would have reached the destination with a reduced delay.
Passengers now have to wait for Ryanair’s response for reimbursements and eventual compensation. The case can also lead to a debate on the need for more flexible rules for air operations outside the scheduled time.
Commercial aviation continues to face challenges in managing unexpected situations. This incident in Bilbau demonstrates the importance of effective planning and rapid measures to minimize the impact on passengers.
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