Terrified passengers told to balance plane

[medhead]

Admittedly I have not travelled as much as some of the people on AFF but I cannot remember a flight where I have been told I have to stay put in my seat and cannot move for the entire flight. I do remember though being asked to remain in allocated seat for take-off and landing.

I've only had it on a Saab Metroliner from OLP-ADL and then there were a number of TV crews on board and the airline managed to get all their cough in with the luggage so the rear of the aircraft was quiet full. Hence unloading pax from the rear first.

The current fokker 50 of that route also don't fill the first 3 rows, at least on my last 2 flights. Maybe that is for balance, ut they did used to sell those seats, so who knows.

There was also some crash on Air crash investiagation that invlove maybe a dash 8 that was caused by balance issues, but on takeoff and due to incorrect weight calculation issues.

Basically, I'd guess this is only an issue on smaller aircraft.

 

[dajop]

I know when I used to fly about regularly on the 36 seat Dash 8's - there were three zones and you were only allowed to move seats if you remained in the same zone.

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone know what type of aircraft is involved? It is definitely not a Dash 8 as Thomas Cook operates A320s, A321s, A330s, B757s and B767s.

Terrified by the request, 71 tourists refused to board the Thomas Cook flight from Majorca, in the Mediterranean, to Newcastle, UK.

....

The plane returned to Newcastle, UK, with 115 passengers onboard.

It would appear that it was due to carry 186 passengers. That is a lot of passengers asked sit at the back of the aircraft. This is not a Embraer 120, CRJ, Dash 8 or a Metroliner. I can see why so many were terrified and refused to travel.

 

[mannej]

There was also some crash on Air crash investiagation that invlove maybe a dash 8 that was caused by balance issues, but on takeoff and due to incorrect weight calculation issues.

Basically, I'd guess this is only an issue on smaller aircraft.

This was Air Midwest flight 5481. Beechcraft1900.
The plane was too heavy, coupled with poor maintenance procedures led to the plane stalling very shortly after take off. The stall was down to a) the weight on board the plane, and b) restricted pitch control due to maintenance issues.

It is true that the smaller planes are affected more, but it doesn't mean a larger aircraft are exempt from these problems.

 

[serfty]

On Jetstar International I have heard them tell passengers to stay in their allocated seats and not to just move to another seat

Dave

I have heard this on JQi as well. I believe it was more to do with ensuring those who pre-ordered items received them.

 

[dajop]

Does anyone know what type of aircraft is involved? It is definitely not a Dash 8 as Thomas Cook operates A320s, A321s, A330s, B757s and B767s.

Well I think we can rule at an A330. The headline would have instead read "Terrified passengers refuse to fly in another A330 incident..." or something of the like.

 

[pauly7]

I actually think the comments are more entertaining on this one!

Cue to the comment '... I was on a Virgin Blue flight and they did this and it was really bad and unprofessional as well and that is why I don't fly them'

QF staff bored? LOL

 

[straitman]

Predictably most posts attacking the news agency and ignoring the articles itself

IF the news agency stuck to the facts and did not sensationalise then people would not attack them.

This has been reported reasonable widely here in UK and is of relevence in news. It is definitely not the norm for a high percentage of people to refuse to board a plane or that they disembarked rather than fly on a plane with a faulty hold door ( which sounds like it may have been a major factor in the passengers concerns )


Dave

It actually sounds to me like the airline did not sell the situation to the passengers at all well. Very simply, the crew, the ones with the safety knowledge, would not get on the aircraft if it was unsafe.

The article gives no substantial detail which greatly decreases its relevance in news and is why people, yet again, pick on the news agency. Put in the facts occasionally and people will respond appropriately :!:

Without knowing I would suggest that the hold door in question was jammed securely shut and that the request was made so that the aircraft and passengers could continue to somewhere more appropriate to fixing the issue.

If people knew how often that aircraft flew with quite a few unserviceablilities, permitted by the MEL, they would be amazed.