More than 300 passengers found themselves stranded onboard an Emirates aircraft on the runway of an airport for over 10 hours, according to reports. Flight EK302, traveling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Shanghai, China, had to divert to Hangzhou due to severe thunderstorms on July 22.
The Airbus A380, known as the world’s largest passenger airliner, landed safely at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport around 9 pm local time, which is approximately 110 miles from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. However, what was supposed to be a minor disruption turned into a prolonged ordeal as 373 passengers remained on board until the following morning.
Passengers voiced complaints to local media about the uncomfortable conditions inside the cabin, mentioning that the air-conditioning system failed around 3 am. Many criticized the airline for the lack of communication during the incident.
According to the South China Morning Post, Emirates crew initially planned to wait for improved weather conditions at Shanghai Pudong International Airport before resuming the journey. Immigration procedures were not promptly arranged for the passengers assuming a short layover in Hangzhou.
Delays in border control procedures further prolonged the time spent on board. Eventually, after more than 17 hours, passengers and crew were allowed to disembark, with over seven hours spent in the air and another 10-and-a-half hours parked on the tarmac.
Emirates has issued apologies to affected passengers, stating that they were provided with meals, accommodations, and shuttle services to Shanghai. The Mirror has reached out to Emirates for additional details.
