An aviation expert warned that the extreme conditions that caused the unexpected deplaning are only likely to get more common as the impact of climate change is felt
Twenty passengers were forced to disembark a British Airways flight after it became too heavy to take off.
The extreme heat that was baking Italy on August 11 meant that the air was less dense. This, in turn, meant that more fuel was needed for the plane to reach cruising altitude and it was this fuel weight that displaced the unfortunate passengers.
The BA Embraer ERJ-190 was bound for London City from Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci airport. The problem was made all the worse by the airports short runway, which comes in a half the length of Gatwicks.
A mum who was on the emptied flight said: “The pilot said people had to get off because of the extreme heat. It was around 35 degrees and they needed extra fuel for the engine to run effectively.
“The staff said 36 would have to be unloaded but only about 20 people had to get off in the end.”
British Airways apologised to the affected passengers.
A spokesman said: “Due to the unique nature of the airfield with its short runway, extreme temperatures affect air pressure, so aircraft weight must be reduced.
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience. Our teams worked hard to get passengers to their destination as quickly as possible.”
Reported in the Sun, University of Reading aviation expert Dr Jonny Williams said: “Hot summer days when smaller airports have to reduce their weight will get more common.
“Conditions which used to happen about one day in a summer may happen three or four days a week by the 2060s.
“Flying to Spain, Italy or Greece could get more expensive as flights carry fewer people due to climate change.”
This comes after a tourist was branded the “ultimate passenger from hell” after she allegedly vomited on a family and spat wine at them at 30,000ft.
The British Airways captain had to radio ahead for police to meet the transatlantic flight from London Heathrow to San Diego Airport in California earlier this month after the woman’s “inexcusable drunken outrage”. Alarmed families had noticed the passenger necking booze from a bottle of wine she had smuggled on board in her hand luggage.
And it is understood she was then served a Chardonnay and a Bloody Mary on Flight BA273, before scenes of “bedlam” broke out. A witness said: “She slugged as much wine as she could, got up from her seat, and intentionally spat the wine swilling around her mouth into their faces. It was disgusting and rancid.” The woman continued to hassle the “petrified” family as she downed drinks, it is reported today.