Melvyn Chazen, from Wavertree, is demanding ‘proof’ after easyJet told customers a bird strike was the reason behind their flight from Bodrum being delayed until the next day
A man left stranded in Turkey after his easyJet flight was delayed for “almost 20 hours” has rejected the £21 the airline offered him in compensation.
Melvyn Chazen, from Wavertree, has called on the budget airline to provide “proof” that a bird strike forced the delay of flight EZY3408 from Bodrum back to the UK.
Melvyn, 83, was meant to fly home from Bodrum at 10.40pm on July 2 when birds are said to have struck the plane, leading to a five-hour delay. That initial delay became an overnight stay, with easyJet providing accommodation until the following day. It comes after a mum who left work ‘abruptly’ was then found dead in a hotel room.
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EasyJet previously apologised for the flight being delayed and said it rescheduled the flight to operate the next day due to a bird strike which required an engineering inspection. Liverpool Echo reports that, as in line with easyJet regulations, a bird strike is considered outside of the airlines’ control, meaning a passenger refund of the cost of the flight is not offered.
However, Melvyn said he wants proof this is what happened otherwise he believes he should be entitled to a refund. He also claimed the time the lack of communication from the airline made him “upset” and said he was left without food and drink and “nowhere to sit down” for hours.
EasyJet said Melvyn is now receiving direct support from the travel agent who he booked his holiday with and the airline “sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay”.
Melvyn said: “I went to Turkey for a week on holiday, which was fine. The day we were coming home we were picked up from the hotel by the transfer coach and told that the flight had been delayed for five hours. Instead of departing a 10.40pm it was leaving at 3.30am.”
It was once customers arrived at the airport and “waited an hour” to get through security and customs that passengers were told the flight had been delayed until the following evening. Melvyn said: “They put us up in a hotel but we had to go all the way back through customs and back into Turkey.
“It took six hours to get back to a hotel in Turkey, all the while there was no refreshments available, no water, no food offered. We were waiting in long queues with nowhere to sit down and not one member of easyJet staff was there to communicate or check on the customers.”
The airline said it kept customers informed by text, email and on Flight Tracker. It also said the airport helped customers with arrangements for hotel accommodation and meals. However, Melvyn said he didn’t have any access to emails and was unable to get online and hoped an easyJet member of staff would have been there to communicate with customers.
On July 3, Melvyn was taken back to the airport via transfer bus, where he eventually boarded an easyJet flight to Liverpool. He said this is when he learned about the bird strike that delayed the previous flight. He said no refund was offered to customers despite the “20 hour delay”.
Upon arriving back in the UK, Melvyn said easyJet offered him £21 in compensation, which covered the costs of the expenses he paid out on food and drink during the delay. He said he was asked to provide proof of the expenses and now wants easyJet to provide evidence of the bird strike.
Mr Chazen said: “I have refused to accept the compensation. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask for proof that birds flew into the engine.
“They asked me for proof of my £21 so I want them to equally prove their case. I paid £446.01 for the holiday. I feel like I’m entitled to ask for proof, to prove that is the reason why they won’t pay out.”
An easyJet holidays spokesperson said: “Mr Chazen is now receiving direct support from the travel agent with whom he originally booked his holiday, to assist with guidance and resolution of his expense claim. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay and appreciate his patience as the matter is brought to a close.”