EasyJet marches 19 passengers off Lanzarote flight ‘because plane was TOO HEAVY’ as Brits fume ‘get me home’

NINETEEN people were marched off an easyJet plane bound for the UK – because it was “too heavy to take off”. Disgruntled passengers hoping to leave Lanzarote can be heard muttering “I want to go home tonight” after the pilot asked people to make the flight “lighter”. AlamyThe ejected passengers were offered compensation – after quitting the “heavy” flight[/caption] The flight, from the Spanish island’s Arrecife Airport, was scheduled to take off at 9.45pm on Wednesday, July 5, but was delayed by concerns over the aircraft’s weight and adverse weather conditions. It did not depart for Liverpool‘s John Lennon Airport until 11.24pm – after an appeal by flight crew for “up to 20 passengers” to “choose not to fly”. In a video shared by a passenger, the pilot can be heard saying the weather conditions meant a number of people would have to get off the plane. He said: “Thank for for getting here today. Because there are so many of you it’s a pretty heavy aircraft. “That heavy aircraft, combined with a pretty short runway and with the current unfavourable conditions here in Lanzarote, means the aircraft is too heavy to take off.” The pilot continues: “With safety as our number one priority, there is no way, with the current wind conditions, that we could get this aircraft airborne. “There are a number of factors – it’s very hot, the wind isn’t fantastic, the direction isn’t great. “Now, you might be wondering what happens next and that’s what I’ve come in here to say. I have spoken with our operations team and the one way to solve a problem with a heavy aircraft is to make it slightly lighter. “If possible, I would like to ask up to 20 volunteers to choose not to fly to Liverpool tonight. If anyone wants to volunteer there will be an incentive. The current number we’ve been quoted by easyJet is up to €500 per passenger who is willing to not fly tonight.” Those on board can be heard muttering “I want to go home tonight” in response to the request, while some are seen shaking their heads or murmuring to their seat companion. As well as the original poster, another woman is seen pulling out her phone to film the unexpected announcement. An easyJet spokesperson confirmed to The Sun: “EasyJet can confirm that 19 passengers on flight EZY3364 from Lanzarote to Liverpool on Wednesday volunteered to travel on a later flight as a result of the aircraft being over the weight limits for the weather conditions. “This is a routine operational decision in these circumstances and weight restrictions are in place for all airlines for safety reasons. “In the event that a flight would exceed weight limits, we ask for passengers to volunteer to transfer to a later flight free of charge which is what happened on this occasion and volunteers are provided with compensation in line with regulations. “The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.” AlamyThe airline called the move a “routine operational decision”[/caption]