Odyssey in Innsbruck

Passengers trapped at the airport for hours

The wait is never-ending for passengers.

(Bild: Privat, Krone KREATIV)

All those passengers who wanted to travel from Innsbruck to London on the morning flight on the public holiday needed to have nerves of steel. Due to a technical defect, they were stuck at the airport for 12 (!) hours - and now even have to spend the night in the Tyrolean capital. The "Krone" was in contact with an affected passenger who described the almost unbelievable details. 

The easy jet flight from Innsbruck Airport to London Gatwick was originally scheduled for 10.55 am, and most of the passengers have been at the airport since around 10 am. "At first we were told that the flight would be delayed by around 30 minutes," a Tyrolean woman (name known to the editors) told the Krone. Then boarding started and the first bus with passengers set off from the terminal to the plane. "But it was then sent back again and everyone had to get off. We were told that the plane had a technical fault and we had to wait for an engineer," explained the passenger, "I just wondered what had broken down in such a short time? After all, the plane landed in Innsbruck shortly before without any problems."

"Engineer has to be flown in"
The next announcement then caused despair. "The engineer has to be flown from London to Innsbruck, he will arrive on the next plane. There is only one engineer from Tui in Innsbruck, but he has nothing to do with the easy jet plane," explained the passenger.

Passengers can buy food and drink with vouchers.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV)

Passengers try to keep themselves occupied - with their cell phones, for example.

(Bild: Privat, Krone KREATIV)

So the wait continued. The next easy jet plane was also delayed, and the pilot even had to do an extra lap before landing - mainly due to the foehn storm. This plane also landed at around 4 pm. "We watched as three engineers went to our plane as a result. That of course gave us hope," said the Tyrolean. Another easy jet aircraft landed and took off again at 6.15 pm. 

Hope was pinned on 8.45 p.m.
What happens now? "They said at around 6 p.m. that they were now sending a plane over from London that had just landed from Cyprus. It is supposed to land in Innsbruck at 8.45 p.m. and then supposedly continue on to London," said the passenger. So the wait goes on - and the passengers' nerves dwindle by the minute.

8.45 p.m. became 9.45 p.m. "The pilot has already tried three times to land in Innsbruck - but so far without success. The strong Föhn storm is still playing spoilsport. According to reports, he is still trying. If it really doesn't make it, then we'll have to spend the night in Innsbruck," says the Tyrolean. 

"We all have to find our own accommodation"
The final decision was made shortly after 10 pm: The plane cannot land, it will continue on to Salzburg Airport. "We now have to collect our suitcases and can leave the airport area. One message in particular caused uproar among us passengers: We all have to organize our own accommodation in Innsbruck - and at this time of day and after this odyssey," the passenger was annoyed. 

What will happen tomorrow is still written in the stars. "Either we will all be taken to Salzburg by bus or the plane will pick us up in Innsbruck. We should find out in the next few hours," the stranded woman told the Tiroler Krone.

Vouchers were distributed
"We have been at the airport since 10 am. Because we have already boarded and our suitcases are on the plane, we are trapped at the gate. They did let us out to the main counter, but we couldn't get out into the fresh air. Otherwise the wait wouldn't have been so bad, of course," explained the Tyrolean, "we all received a voucher worth nine euros from the airline during the day so that we could buy a pizza slice and a coffee. But with the prices at the airport, we had to pay extra. But at least we had this service." Another voucher has now been issued again in the evening for all those affected - in the amount of 27 euros. 

As we had already boarded and our suitcases were already on the plane, we were trapped at the gate.

Eine betroffene Tirolerin 

"Everyone is busy somehow"
It should be emphasized that all the passengers are extremely positive and calm despite the exceptional situation. "Everyone is busy reading, using their cell phone or ipad. Even the children are totally well-behaved," said the Tyrolean. 

The stranded passengers have already found out about financial compensation. "This airline is actually known for refunding money in such cases. If the flight is delayed by more than five hours, for example, up to 400 euros per passenger is reimbursed. That is of course a small consolation," said the Tyrolean.