Flight stuck at Manchester Airport for three days finally departs
A Pakistan International Airlines flight which was due to leave Manchester Airport on Saturday 21 July at 9pm has finally departed - almost three days later.
Approximately 300 passengers boarded flight PK720 bound for Islamabad on Saturday evening.
After around two hours of sitting on the stationary aircraft, cabin crew instructed passengers to disembark and return to the departure lounge because of a fault with the engine.
After waiting for further information, the weary passengers were informed at 1.30am that engineers had failed to resolve the matter and that the flight would not be departing that evening as planned.
Passengers were told to return the following evening and that the revised departure time was scheduled for 9pm on Sunday 22 July.
According to the Manchester Evening News, passengers vacated the airport and returned home, while others were taken to nearby hotels.
But, the aircraft had still not departed Manchester’s terminal two by nightfall on Monday 23 July.
Nabila Shabbir, 32, from Bolton, whose 68-year-old mother was booked on the flight, described their experience to the Evening News last night: “On Sunday night we arrived again, three hours before the flight, and the passengers were issued with updated boarding passes.
"As soon as they got into the terminal they were told about a two-hour delay. They were told there were a number of technical issues on top of the engine problem. We were told it wasn’t just the engine.
“You can imagine my mother and the other passengers were extremely anxious. We were told there’s another plane coming from Pakistan with parts for the plane. We haven’t been told when it will be fixed and to wait for further communication. But we haven’t had any clear communication. We don’t feel there’s any ownership of this from anyone. I think it will be Tuesday by the time it’s fixed.”
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport confirmed to The Independent that the severely delayed flight finally departed at 3pm today.
The Independent has also approached Pakistan International Airlines for comment.
