Passengers on board an aborted TUI flight have been offered free conselling after a nightmare landing in the middle of a blizzard left them 'terrified'.
The TUI flight from Tenerife to Manchester Airport on Thursday (March 9) was forced to divert after extreme weather conditions meant the 'trainee pilot' was unable to land. Passengers were reportedly 'screaming and crying' as the jet was buffeted around in the 'awful' turbulence from Storm Larissa, with the plane landing in the East Midlands instead.
TUI now say they will offer support for those caught up in the landing, but assured customers that the situation is 'rare', reports The Mirror.
The company said in an email: “We would like to assure customers that instances of this nature are rare. TUI has offered all those on the plane counselling.”
Passenger Gareth Salter said of the incident: "People were panicking, babies were screaming, women were crying. There were some young girls behind us in floods of tears.
"I was saying my prayers, to be honest. I didn't think I'd see my family again. We knew from the news the weather was going to be bad, but as soon as we were started coming into land it just didn't feel right. There were crosswinds and we were buffeted about in the turbulence.
"I knew it wasn't Manchester as soon as we landed. Then they came on the speaker and said we were at East Midlands and that it was a trainee pilot and asked us to give him a clap for landing us safely. People were clapping because they were still in shock.
“It was just awful."
Gareth claimed the shell-shocked passengers were then 'abandoned' at East Midlands and left to find their own way home or arrange hotels.
TUI denies the claim, saying transfers were organised to take customers back to Manchester Airport. The travel firm says passengers were also offered the choice to make their own way home and claim the costs back or were offered accommodation where it was unsafe to travel.
A spokesman for the travel firm said: "Unfortunately, one of our aircraft was diverted to East Midlands Airport due to severe wind-speeds on the approach to Manchester.
"The safety of our customers and crew is always our number one priority and we would like to reassure passengers that their safety was never compromised. Our flight crew undertake rigorous training that exceeds all regulatory requirements for these very situations.
"Once safely landed, the pilot entered the cabin and updated passengers as to what had happened, and ground transportation was arranged for them to continue on to Manchester that evening, although we apologise if there were any further delays with the arranged transportation.
"We would like to assure customers that instances of this nature are rare and thank our passengers for their understanding. TUI has offered all those on the plane counselling from CCP (Centre for Crisis Psychology) should they need it."
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