Holiday-makers were left stranded at Dalaman Airport last night after their pilot was assaulted on an incoming flight.
TUI was forced to cancel the flight to Aberdeen after an “unruly” passenger on an earlier flight. It is believed they butted the pilot.
Passengers had gathered at the Turkish airport for flight TOM541, which was due to depart at 1.25am on Friday, and were already through security and sat in the departure lounge when news of the cancellation broke.
Lorraine Grant, 58, a commercial administrator from Buckie had been staying in the resort of Sarigerme for the past couple of weeks with her husband Neil.
Mrs Grant said that the lack of communication between staff and passengers was “terrible”, adding: “There was no reps on the go, nobody knew what was going on, so it was just an absolute shambles.”
After being told of the flight cancellation, the passengers on the Aberdeen flight had to put back their duty free purchases, go back through passport control and collect their luggage.
Causing misery to people
They were then taken on a bus to nearby hotels.
Mr and Mrs Grant did not get back to their temporary hotel until 5am and said the chaos is causing misery for all those stranded.
“There’s a lassie here with a baby that’s had to go into Dalyan to try and get formula because they had none left for the baby,” Mrs Grant said. “There’s not even a toaster in this hotel, you can’t even get a piece of toast.”
‘Not acceptable’
The Buckie couple have their car parked at Aberdeen Airport for a set time period, which is now running overdue to the delays and will cost them more money.
Passengers that have been affected by the delays have been offered a £150 to spend with Tui, an offer that Mrs Grant called “not acceptable”.
Another person affected by the delay is 49-year-old Gina Grant, from Aberdeen, who has been on holiday with her granddaughter, 11, for the past week.
‘Are they having a laugh? It’s shocking’
The Aberdeenshire Council worker has now missed a hospital appointment scheduled for today.
“The only time I saw a rep was to tell us what bus we had to go on to get to the hotel,” she said. “No drinks were offered at the airport, we had to get our own.”
Responding to the offer of a £150 voucher, Mrs Grant said: “Are they having a laugh? It’s shocking.”
Tui has confirmed that the rescheduled flight will depart at 11.45pm on Friday, with passengers being picked up at their hotels at 8.45pm.
A spokeswoman for Tui said: “We are very sorry customers due to travel on flight TOM541 from Dalaman to Aberdeen this morning have had their journey delayed due to the disruptive behaviour of a passenger.
“The wellbeing and safety of our customers and crew is our top priority and we will not tolerate unacceptable behaviour onboard our flights.
“We expect our hardworking and dedicated teams to be able to go about their duties unhampered and anyone obstructing them in doing so can expect a zero tolerance response.
“Whilst frustrated by the delay, customers have been extremely understanding as a replacement crew was brought in to operate the flight, which is scheduled to depart at 11.45pm tonight and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience.”
Latest in a string of cancellations for Tui this summer
- In September, a diabetic man was refused a bottle of water after Tui left him “stranded” in Edinburgh without a way back to Aberdeen.
- In early August, an eight-year-old was forced to sleep in a suitcase in a Turkish airport after a flight was cancelled at the last minute.
- In late August, a pensioner took matters into his own hands and paid £400 for a taxi to Aberdeen after he was “dumped” in Edinburgh.
- This month, two Tui flights to Aberdeen Airport had their routes delayed or diverted.
- Also in September, a Tui flight from Tenerife to Aberdeen was delayed by 16 hours due to the flight’s crew needing rest.
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