Plane passenger caught short in air

07 November 2013 09:36

A female traveller heading from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to Gatwick managed to trap herself in the loo

A female traveller heading from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to Gatwick managed to trap herself in the loo

Holiday mishaps can occur at any time - as one red-faced BA passenger found out.

The female traveller heading from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to Gatwick managed to trap herself in the lavatory as the plane headed down the runway for take-off.

As the young woman got out of the toilet as the plane gathered speed, she was ordered back inside by air stewardesses. The passenger was still locked in the loo - without a seatbelt to keep her in her unorthodox flight seat - as the plane took to the skies. She was only allowed to make a rather sheepish journey back to her seat when the seatbelt warning signs were switched off.

Passengers later claimed the flight crew had seemed to be in a rush to get the plane off the ground after it was delayed 30 minutes past its scheduled 9.35pm take-off slot. One said the aircraft had pulled away while some passengers were still on their feet, trying to find space in the overhead lockers for hand luggage.

A 31-year-old passenger also described the "commotion" at the back of the plane as it took off. He said other passengers told him there was not "one spare seat" left on the flight, so it seemed strange the toilet-trapped passenger was not spotted missing, given that she had an aisle seat.

The red-faced passenger apologised to attendants as she got back to her seat, after being rebuked by them. She did not appear to have been harmed, although the incident does point out why good travel insurance is an absolute necessity.

And the witness added: "When the flight was approaching Gatwick the pilot came on the radio and told passengers that they should return to their seats and the toilets could no longer be used. It seemed that this was done deliberately after what had happened earlier and there were a few giggles among passengers who had seen it all."

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