A Ryanair flight from the southern island of Crete to Thessaloniki was delayed for about five hours Sunday after a technical problem forced the aircraft to return to its parking position, triggering an angry reaction from passengers and prompting police to intervene.
The Boeing 737, carrying 183 passengers, was scheduled to depart Hania International Airport at 4.40 p.m. But after beginning to taxi, the aircraft developed a technical problem and the captain returned it to the parking area.
Technicians carried out checks to determine whether the aircraft could safely operate the flight. About two hours later, an attempt was made to restart the engines, but a new warning appeared on the instruments, extending the delay.
According to public broadcaster ERT, passengers remained on board for about five hours as frustration mounted. The situation was reportedly exacerbated when passengers who asked for water were told they would have to pay for it.
After about five hours, the aircraft was cleared to depart. But when it began taxiing again, several passengers said they no longer wanted to fly, triggering shouting and confusion inside the cabin. One woman fainted and another suffered a panic attack, ERT reported.
