An EasyJet flight scheduled to depart from Spain's Canary Islands to Liverpool experienced a delay due to weight concerns related to the prevailing weather conditions. A video circulating online captures the pilot explaining the situation to passengers.
The pilot stated, "Because of the high passenger count, the aircraft is quite heavy today. This, coupled with a relatively short runway and the current environmental conditions in Lanzarote, makes the aircraft too heavy for takeoff at this time. My senior first officer and I have encountered this before and are experienced in handling such situations."
He emphasized safety as the top priority, stating, "Under the current wind and environmental conditions in Lanzarote, it's impossible to get this aircraft airborne right now." To address the issue, the pilot offered a €500 (approximately $550) incentive to any passenger willing to deplane and remain in the Canary Islands.
Nineteen passengers accepted the offer, while others expressed their desire to return home that night. The flight, originally scheduled for a 9:45 p.m. departure, eventually left at 11:30 p.m. and landed in Liverpool at 3 a.m. the following day.
An EasyJet spokesperson confirmed the incident, explaining that requesting passengers to deplane is standard procedure in such circumstances. Weight restrictions are implemented by all airlines for safety reasons. When a flight exceeds these limits, passengers are asked to volunteer for a later flight at no cost and receive compensation as per regulations.
