.
Register for Simon Calder’s complimentary travel newsletter to receive professional tips and cost-saving deals.
Receive Simon Calder’s Travel newsletter via email.
A flight operated by British Airways was prevented from departing in Italy due to oversized seat cushions.
Aviation authorities in Italy performed an unexpected check on the BA flight from Milan to London Heathrow on Monday (5 February) and determined that the seat cushions on the Airbus A320neo were incorrect.
The cushions that caused the issue impacted the seats located in the overwing exit rows. These seats are typically designed to provide more room in case of an emergency evacuation, as reported by View From the Wing.
After the inspection, it was determined that the airplane did not have the necessary modified cushions.
A traveler who was on a flight that was completely booked shared two videos on TikTok. The videos featured amused passengers dressed in business attire, with the uploader describing them as “hilarious moments”.
Flight attendants announced the correct serial number, while travelers were told to recline their seats in order to locate the smaller cushions that could be traded for the luxurious pillows.
According to the TikTok user, British Airways had regular seat cushions in emergency rows, but they should have shorter ones for emergency situations.
“We are currently searching under the seats in case the items have been misplaced. If we are unable to locate all 12 of them, we will need to deplane as it is not safe to proceed with the flight.”
Thankfully, observant passengers were able to identify the correct cushions, which were then exchanged and the flight took off with only a one-hour delay.
Many individuals on social media were confused by the situation, though.
One person questioned the allowance of passengers dismantling the seat base, stating that it should be left to an engineer or trained cabin crew. Another praised the cautious approach, stating that British Airways should adhere to the rules.
The Independent has reached out to British Airways for a response.
In 2023, new data showed that one third of passengers in the UK experienced delays or cancellations, just weeks before the unusual incident occurred.
According to AirHelp’s data, London Gatwick had the highest amount of flight disruptions at 42%, followed closely by London Stansted with a disruption rate of 39%.
Durham Tees Valley Airport had the highest level of punctuality, with only 19 percent of flights experiencing disruptions.
The source is the Independent website.
