British Airways flight lands in Edinburgh instead of Dusseldorf
A British Airways flight destined for Dusseldorf in Germany has landed in Edinburgh by mistake, after the flight paperwork was submitted incorrectly.
The passengers only realised the error when the plane landed and the "welcome to Edinburgh" announcement was made.
The plane, which started at London's City Airport, was then redirected and landed in Dusseldorf. WDL Aviation ran the BA flight through a leasing deal.
BA said it was working with WDL to find out why it filed the wrong flight plan.
"We have apologised to customers for this interruption to their journey and will be contacting them all individually," BA said in a statement.
BA declined to say how many passengers were affected by the mistake.
BA say the pilot wasn't lost at any point, but because the paperwork said Edinburgh, the flight simply took that route.
German firm WDL said it was "working closely with the authorities to investigate how the obviously unfortunate mix-up of flight schedules could occur".
"At no time has the safety of passengers been compromised. We flew the passengers on the flight with number BA3271 to Düsseldorf after the involuntary stopover in Edinburgh," it said.
Sophie Cooke, a 24-year-old management consultant, travels from London To Dusseldorf each week for work.
She said when the pilot first made the announcement that the plane was about to land in Edinburgh everyone assumed it was a joke. She asked the cabin crew if they were serious.
The pilot then asked passengers to raise their hands if they wanted to go to Dusseldorf.
Everyone raised their hands.
"The pilot said he had no idea how it had happened. He said it had never happened before and that the crew was trying to work out what we could do."
Sophie said the plane sat on the tarmac at Edinburgh for two-and-a-half hours, before flying onto Dusseldorf.
"It became very frustrating. The toilets were blocked and they ran out of snacks. It was also really stuffy," she said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47691478
Comments
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"BA declined to say how many passengers were affected by the mistake"
I'd guess at.........all of them.34 -
Anyone else think it was Sophie who blocked the toilets?9
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Latest news: "After a long and frustrating journey from London City, via an unplanned stop in Edinburgh, British Airways is pleased to announce that the flight has finally, and safely, touched down in Dublin".
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I had a flight back to City once that was diverted because of the wind to Southend, right touch, home in 10 mins.6
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as against unsafely crashing anywhere?Chizz said:Latest news: "After a long and frustrating journey from London City, via an unplanned stop in Edinburgh, British Airways is pleased to announce that the flight has finally, and safely, touched down in Dublin".0 -
Beats Ryanair with the airport furthest from the actual city you wanted to visit.6
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Its Brexit... Seeing we're going to be unable to leave the country they're preparing to hoodwink people who are going abroad by actually sending them somewhere else in the UKguinnessaddick said:Beats Ryanair with the airport furthest from the actual city you wanted to visit.
Edinburgh instead of Dusseldorf failed yet the politicians are hoping that sending passengers to Leeds / Bradford instead of Paris will have better results2 -
My theory is that the Captain is a Leave voter and they didn't want to be plastered all over social media and labelled a hypocrite by flying his plane into a European destination outside the UK.0
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Surely the fact that they hadn’t flown over any sea would have given the pilot some indication they weren’t in Germany?4
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I fail to see how this could happen.I have flown on a few occasions, and I am certain that before take off the pilot will welcome the passengers announcing the flight departure time and DESTINATION.4
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Cannot help but laugh0
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usually an update of the weather in the destination as wellElfsborgAddick said:I fail to see how this could happen.I have flown on a few occasions, and I am certain that before take off the pilot will welcome the passengers announcing the flight departure time and DESTINATION.
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A mate of mine (Prittlewell resident) had that happen to him as well. He was well happy, but apparently there were lots Irish people on his flight going to London. They were ok at first as many assumed that 'London Southend' would be somewhere just south of the city. Rather less pleased to find that they were 40 miles away, the trains had stopped for the night and their choice was hotel or taxi.Southendaddick said:I had a flight back to City once that was diverted because of the wind to Southend, right touch, home in 10 mins.0 -
That's strange, i'd of thought when they heard the sound of bagpipes instead of an Oompah band...guinnessaddick said:0 -
Probably flew over PitseaDaveMehmet said:Surely the fact that they hadn’t flown over any sea would have given the pilot some indication they weren’t in Germany?1 -
Has Katrien got a new job as an ait traffic controller?1
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Something just doesn't add up.
Not one of the passengers or crew noticed they hadn't crossed the Channel and were going in the wrong direction? And if they did nobody alerted the crew so a message could get to the pilot?
Nobody realized until it was announced 'Welcome to Edinburgh?'
If the pilot had paperwork saying Edinburgh fair enough but surely someone on board would have noticed and spoken out?
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I think the pilot may have thought the destination was Edinburgh. He did tell the passengers they were about to land in Edinburgh. It doesn't take long to cross the channel, the passengers looking out the windows probably thought they had missed it. More logical to assume that than think you are on you way to Scotland!DaveMehmet said:Surely the fact that they hadn’t flown over any sea would have given the pilot some indication they weren’t in Germany?0 -
Spoken like a man that doesn’t drink.MartinCAFC said:Something just doesn't add up.
Not one of the passengers or crew noticed they hadn't crossed the Channel and were going in the wrong direction? And if they did nobody alerted the crew so a message could get to the pilot?
Nobody realized until it was announced 'Welcome to Edinburgh?'
If the pilot had paperwork saying Edinburgh fair enough but surely someone on board would have noticed and spoken out?1 - Sponsored links:
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I always thought a pilot would be a given a schedule of upcoming flights over upcoming days/weeks but it seems they turn up for work, are given a flight plan and then fly to that destination.
On a map, Düsseldorf would be travelling right and Edinburgh would be up, so how no-one knew is beyond me.
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It still takes long enough to cross the North Sea and in case you're in a window seat and feel like glancing out of the window you also can't help but notice the Thames Estuary widening until the North Sea is reached? Especially flying from City airport it's a given you're going to see mass water en-route and not complete land mass all the way.MuttleyCAFC said:
I think the pilot may have thought the destination was Edinburgh. He did tell the passengers they were about to land in Edinburgh. It doesn't take long to cross the channel, the passengers looking out the windows probably thought they had missed it. More logical to assume that than think you are on you way to Scotland!DaveMehmet said:Surely the fact that they hadn’t flown over any sea would have given the pilot some indication they weren’t in Germany?
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Probably a load of ‘jocks’ who thought they were on their way back to Edinburgh currently on the piss in Dusseldorf and can’t believe their luck!1
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In fairness though, there is a fair bit of "up", whatever your destination is.Macronate said:I always thought a pilot would be a given a schedule of upcoming flights over upcoming days/weeks but it seems they turn up for work, are given a flight plan and then fly to that destination.
On a map, Düsseldorf would be travelling right and Edinburgh would be up, so how no-one knew is beyond me.
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Not sure what it's like for airlines doing shorter flights, but at Emirates they give you your roster one month in advance, so you know where you'll be flying to, how long you will be there for (as if it's long haul you'll have a layover before flying back) what your rest days are etc.Macronate said:I always thought a pilot would be a given a schedule of upcoming flights over upcoming days/weeks but it seems they turn up for work, are given a flight plan and then fly to that destination.
On a map, Düsseldorf would be travelling right and Edinburgh would be up, so how no-one knew is beyond me.
Remarkable that this lot just turned up and said 'right where are we off to today then' and off they went.0 -
Are you an air steward?Chris_from_Sidcup said:
Not sure what it's like for airlines doing shorter flights, but at Emirates they give you your roster one month in advance, so you know where you'll be flying to, how long you will be there for (as if it's long haul you'll have a layover before flying back) what your rest days are etc.Macronate said:I always thought a pilot would be a given a schedule of upcoming flights over upcoming days/weeks but it seems they turn up for work, are given a flight plan and then fly to that destination.
On a map, Düsseldorf would be travelling right and Edinburgh would be up, so how no-one knew is beyond me.
Remarkable that this lot just turned up and said 'right where are we off to today then' and off they went.2 -
Hello sailor!orpingtonRED said:
Are you an air steward?Chris_from_Sidcup said:
Not sure what it's like for airlines doing shorter flights, but at Emirates they give you your roster one month in advance, so you know where you'll be flying to, how long you will be there for (as if it's long haul you'll have a layover before flying back) what your rest days are etc.Macronate said:I always thought a pilot would be a given a schedule of upcoming flights over upcoming days/weeks but it seems they turn up for work, are given a flight plan and then fly to that destination.
On a map, Düsseldorf would be travelling right and Edinburgh would be up, so how no-one knew is beyond me.
Remarkable that this lot just turned up and said 'right where are we off to today then' and off they went.3 -
Reminds me of a flight I was on, from Manchester to southern Spain many years ago - having taken off, the pilot announced we would be flying north at 30,000 feet... Cue some very questioning passengers!!0
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Lol could be a pilotOff_it said:
Hello sailor!orpingtonRED said:
Are you an air steward?Chris_from_Sidcup said:
Not sure what it's like for airlines doing shorter flights, but at Emirates they give you your roster one month in advance, so you know where you'll be flying to, how long you will be there for (as if it's long haul you'll have a layover before flying back) what your rest days are etc.Macronate said:I always thought a pilot would be a given a schedule of upcoming flights over upcoming days/weeks but it seems they turn up for work, are given a flight plan and then fly to that destination.
On a map, Düsseldorf would be travelling right and Edinburgh would be up, so how no-one knew is beyond me.
Remarkable that this lot just turned up and said 'right where are we off to today then' and off they went.0 -
Ha ha no my girlfriend is, and our HR manager here is married to a pilot.orpingtonRED said:
Are you an air steward?Chris_from_Sidcup said:
Not sure what it's like for airlines doing shorter flights, but at Emirates they give you your roster one month in advance, so you know where you'll be flying to, how long you will be there for (as if it's long haul you'll have a layover before flying back) what your rest days are etc.Macronate said:I always thought a pilot would be a given a schedule of upcoming flights over upcoming days/weeks but it seems they turn up for work, are given a flight plan and then fly to that destination.
On a map, Düsseldorf would be travelling right and Edinburgh would be up, so how no-one knew is beyond me.
Remarkable that this lot just turned up and said 'right where are we off to today then' and off they went.2
