Could British Airways face a substantial compensation bill for the disruption?

Passengers aboard British Airways flight BA2641 from Malaga to Gatwick on Friday, 28 June, have raised questions about Stanley Johnson’s version of events regarding the flight’s diversion to Heathrow.

The Airbus A321, originally bound for Gatwick, was diverted after the runway at Gatwick was temporarily closed due to a separate British Airways aircraft rejecting takeoff. For 50 minutes, 16 flights were redirected, including the Malaga-bound flight, which landed at Heathrow instead.

The pilots planned to refuel and continue their journey to Gatwick as soon as possible. Stanley Johnson, writing for The Independent, recalled the captain inviting passengers without checked luggage to disembark at Heathrow if they wished. He described how he left the plane with two other passengers, descending a set of stairs already in place.

However, several passengers have contradicted Johnson’s account, particularly regarding when the captain made the announcement. One passenger, Annemarie, stated: “I can confirm that the pilot did not announce passengers with hand luggage could leave upon landing at Heathrow. It was only after some passengers insisted on leaving that the announcement was made.”

Another passenger, Richard Davenport, corroborated this, explaining that upon arrival, the pilot initially informed everyone that the plane would park and next steps would be communicated. It was only later, after further discussions, that the captain made the announcement allowing passengers to leave. Davenport also stated that Johnson, with a female passenger, approached the front of the plane and demanded to disembark.

The situation escalated as more passengers sought to leave, leading to airport police being called. After delays caused by passengers with hold luggage wanting to exit, the flight was eventually cancelled, as all baggage needed to be removed for safety reasons. The planned next flight to Cyprus was also cancelled.

Mr Davenport concluded that Johnson’s actions led to the delay, ultimately resulting in the cancellation of the flight. Further mystery surrounds the female passenger Johnson mentioned, who was reportedly distressed and expressed a fear of flying. Davenport raised doubts, noting she had seemed calm during the flight from Malaga to London.

The cause of her apparent distress, and the tragic circumstances surrounding her loss, remain unclear. British Airways could face compensation claims exceeding £200,000 if found responsible for the disruption, as regulations stipulate compensation for delays or cancellations of three hours or more. If all 200 passengers claim, the total could reach £210,000.

The Independent has reached out to British Airways for a statement, but they have not provided further details beyond confirming that the flight was diverted to Heathrow due to disruption at Gatwick.