EasyJet flight from London to Turkey is forced to divert after misfired Champagne cork caused oxygen masks to drop from ceiling
- Plane was carrying British holidaymakers to Turkey's Mediterranean coast
- Flight attendant fired the cork into ceiling panels on the Airbus A320
- Pilot announced the plane would divert to Milan, Italy for needed repairs
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An easyJet flight carrying dozens of British holidaymakers was forced to divert after a misfired Champagne cork caused oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling.
The plane was flying from Gatwick Airport to Dalaman, Turkey, when a flight attendant accidentally fired the cork into ceiling panels while opening a bottle of bubbly for passengers at the back of the plane.
Passengers were shocked when the pilot announced that the plane had to divert to Milan in order to repair the damage, according to a report.
Passengers said the cork damaged ceiling panels and caused oxygen masks to drop at the back of the plane
Two off-duty flight attendants were already drinking Champagne when two passengers ordered a bottle to start their holiday celebrations early, The Sun reported
After hitting the ceiling panels, the cork caused oxygen masks to drop above the cabin crew seats at the back of the Airbus A320, the newspaper said.
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Passengers said the cork damaged ceiling panels and caused oxygen masks to drop at the back of the plane
Flight EZY8845 was halfway through its four-hour journey to the Mediterranean coast when the incident occurred.
One passenger told The Sun passengers were stunned over the reason for the unscheduled stop in Italy.
The easyJet flight was forced to divert to Malpensa airport, causing a seven-hour delay for holidaymakers
The passenger said: ‘It wasn’t very funny at the time but I can see the lighter side now. ‘All that hassle, delay and money wasted by easyJet — all over a champagne cork.’
Another person on board said: ‘The pilot then came on to apologise and said: “We’ve got to divert to Milan to have it repaired because we can’t fly with the masks hanging down”.’
The plane took off after the damage was fixed and the plane refuelled, but passengers arrived at 5:30am – seven hours behind schedule.
An easyJet spokesman told MailOnline Travel: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY8845 from London Gatwick to Dalaman on 7 August diverted to Milan Malpensa as a precautionary measure due to a technical issue with the cabin crew oxygen masks.
'In line with safety procedures the captain took the correct decision to divert so that the cabin crew oxygen masks could be reset.
'The flight continued to Dalaman one hour and seven minutes later once this had happened. Passengers were provided with a complimentary in-flight service whilst on the ground in Milan Malpensa.
'The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority. We would like to apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused.'
Yesterday, a ‘drunk' female passenger was arrested by Spanish police after she allegedly punched an easyJet flight attendant while flying from London Stansted to Ibiza.
The shocking incident caused the pilot of flight EZY3043 to divert to Barcelona, where the woman was escorted off the plane.
A passenger said: 'Even when she was in the police car, she was kicking and screaming, it was a shocking incident.'
The plane was delayed for around an hour, before flying on to Ibiza.
The passenger said that it was announced the young woman would be 'banned for life' from easyJet flights.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3215089/EasyJet-flight-London-Turkey-forced-divert-misfired-Champagne-cork-caused-oxygen-masks-drop-ceiling.html#ixzz3kHFKrE7h
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The easyJet flight was forced to divert to Malpensa airport, causing a seven-hour delay for holidaymakers
- Plane was carrying British holidaymakers to Turkey's Mediterranean coast
- Flight attendant fired the cork into ceiling panels on the Airbus A320
- Pilot announced the plane would divert to Milan, Italy for needed repairs
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An easyJet flight carrying dozens of British holidaymakers was forced to divert after a misfired Champagne cork caused oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling.
The plane was flying from Gatwick Airport to Dalaman, Turkey, when a flight attendant accidentally fired the cork into ceiling panels while opening a bottle of bubbly for passengers at the back of the plane.
Passengers were shocked when the pilot announced that the plane had to divert to Milan in order to repair the damage, according to a report.
Passengers said the cork damaged ceiling panels and caused oxygen masks to drop at the back of the plane
Two off-duty flight attendants were already drinking Champagne when two passengers ordered a bottle to start their holiday celebrations early, The Sun reported
After hitting the ceiling panels, the cork caused oxygen masks to drop above the cabin crew seats at the back of the Airbus A320, the newspaper said.
Flight EZY8845 was halfway through its four-hour journey to the Mediterranean coast when the incident occurred.
One passenger told The Sun passengers were stunned over the reason for the unscheduled stop in Italy.
The easyJet flight was forced to divert to Malpensa airport, causing a seven-hour delay for holidaymakers
The passenger said: ‘It wasn’t very funny at the time but I can see the lighter side now. ‘All that hassle, delay and money wasted by easyJet — all over a champagne cork.’
Another person on board said: ‘The pilot then came on to apologise and said: “We’ve got to divert to Milan to have it repaired because we can’t fly with the masks hanging down”.’
The plane took off after the damage was fixed and the plane refuelled, but passengers arrived at 5:30am – seven hours behind schedule.
An easyJet spokesman told MailOnline Travel: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY8845 from London Gatwick to Dalaman on 7 August diverted to Milan Malpensa as a precautionary measure due to a technical issue with the cabin crew oxygen masks.
'In line with safety procedures the captain took the correct decision to divert so that the cabin crew oxygen masks could be reset.
'The flight continued to Dalaman one hour and seven minutes later once this had happened. Passengers were provided with a complimentary in-flight service whilst on the ground in Milan Malpensa.
'The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority. We would like to apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused.'
Yesterday, a ‘drunk' female passenger was arrested by Spanish police after she allegedly punched an easyJet flight attendant while flying from London Stansted to Ibiza.
The shocking incident caused the pilot of flight EZY3043 to divert to Barcelona, where the woman was escorted off the plane.
A passenger said: 'Even when she was in the police car, she was kicking and screaming, it was a shocking incident.'
The plane was delayed for around an hour, before flying on to Ibiza.
The passenger said that it was announced the young woman would be 'banned for life' from easyJet flights.
