More than 300 passengers found themselves stranded on an Emirates aircraft for over 10 hours on the tarmac of an airport, according to reports.
Flight EK302, traveling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Shanghai, China, was forced to divert to Hangzhou due to severe thunderstorms on July 22. The Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger airliner, landed safely at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport around 9 pm local time, just 110 miles from its original destination.
What was expected to be a minor disruption turned into a nightmare for the 373 passengers onboard, as they were stuck on the plane until the following morning, enduring sweltering conditions after the air-conditioning system failed around 3 am. Passengers criticized the airline for providing limited information during the ordeal.
Emirates crew had initially planned to wait for improved weather conditions at Shanghai Pudong International Airport before resuming the journey. However, due to the unexpected delay in Hangzhou, immigration procedures for passengers were not immediately arranged, causing further delays in disembarkation.
After spending more than 17 hours onboard, passengers and crew were eventually allowed to leave the aircraft, with approximately seven hours spent in the air and another 10-and-a-half hours parked on the tarmac. Emirates has issued an apology to affected customers and ensured they were provided with meals, accommodations, and transportation to Shanghai.
Emirates has acknowledged the situation, and further information may be available upon inquiry.