Flight diverted to Heathrow: Passengers dispute Stanley Johnson claims

Passengers on the British Airways flight from Malaga that was diverted to Heathrow airport last Friday dispute Stanley Johnson’s version of events.

They were on board BA2641 from Malaga on Friday 28 June. The Airbus A321 was due to fly to Gatwick. However, as the plane approached Sussex airport, the runway was closed because another British Airways flight refused take-off.

During the 50-minute closure of Sussex airport, 16 flights were diverted, including the flight from Malaga which landed at Heathrow.

The pilots wanted to refuel as quickly as possible and fly on to Gatwick.

To write for The independentMr Johnson said that when the plane landed, the captain “invited all passengers without luggage in the hold to disembark at Heathrow if they wished”.

He continued: “That seemed like a very good idea to me.

“I grabbed my bags from the rack and walked to the front entrance of the plane. Two other passengers joined me and we all stepped out of the door to the top of the metal staircase that was already in place.”

But other passengers have disputed Mr Johnson’s account, particularly the point where the captain said anyone who wanted to could disembark.

One of them, named Annemarie, told The independent: “I can categorically confirm that the pilot did not announce that passengers with hand luggage could disembark upon landing at LHR. [Heathrow].

“It was only later, after a few passengers insisted on getting off, that the announcement was made.”

Her story was supported by another passenger, Richard Davenport. He told The independent: “On arrival at Heathrow we were told that the aircraft would be parked and that next steps were yet to be confirmed.

“The pilot then announced that once the aircraft was parked it would be refuelled and a time slot at Gatwick would be requested.

“The pilot later confirmed that a time slot had been allocated for 20 minutes and that fuel had arrived.

“At that point, Mr. Johnson grabbed his bag and, with a female passenger in tow, walked to the front of the plane and demanded to be let out.”

Mr Davenport said that after another 15 or 20 minutes, “the pilot announced that he could not prevent the passengers from leaving if they refused to fly”.

Other passengers decided to leave. By then, the airport police had been called.

Mr Davenport then said: “The pilot informed us that we had missed the time slot and that there were now problems with passengers wanting to disembark the aircraft and having luggage in the hold.

“Half an hour later the pilot said that due to safety regulations all luggage had to be removed and at that point BA decided to cancel the flight.

“All passengers got off and 95 percent of us had to collect our luggage and take a bus back to Gatwick.”

The aircraft, which was based at Gatwick, then made the 19-minute flight with only the crew on board, but the planned next sector to Cyprus and the associated return flight were cancelled.

Mr Davenport concluded: “It was Johnson’s actions that caused the pilot to deviate from his plan to refuel and fly to Gatwick, and the subsequent delay in arranging this led to the cancellation of the flight.”

There is a mystery surrounding the female passenger who attempted to leave the plane at Heathrow with Mr Johnson.

He described her as “bordering on hysterical” and reported that she said: “There is no way I can get back on the plane.

“I just lost my husband in a plane crash. I couldn’t bring myself to get on the plane in Malaga this morning. I just can’t imagine getting on it again now, for a new take-off and a new landing. No, I’m not going to do it. I’m definitely not going to do it.”

Mr Davenport questioned this story, saying: “She had experienced the flight from Malaga to London without any problems, so I don’t know where the sudden fear of flying came from.

“But I admit I didn’t speak to her – I just sat across from her for three hours on the flight while she happily watched a movie on her phone.”

The circumstances under which the passenger lost her husband are also unclear.

British Airways could face damages of more than £200,000 if it is found responsible for the flight terminating at Heathrow, not Gatwick, and for the cancellation of the flights to Cyprus.

Under air passenger rights rules, compensation must be paid if an airline is responsible for a delay of three hours or more at arrival or for cancelling a flight. For flights of that length, compensation is £350 per passenger.

Assuming an average passenger count of 200, BA’s bill would be £210,000 if all passengers on the three affected flights made a claim.

The independent has reiterated its request for comment from British Airways. The only thing the airline has said about the incident so far is: “Due to earlier disruption at Gatwick, the flight was diverted to Heathrow where it terminated.”

Mr Johnson has been contacted for comment.