Easyjet offers compensation after passengers forced off over safety weight calculations

The service to Malaga was scheduled to depart at 08:40 on Saturday, but the airline mentioned that weather conditions and the runway length necessitated weight restrictions before take-off.

EasyJet stated that those who disembarked were transferred at no additional charge to London Gatwick for another flight later the same day and would also receive compensation.

One passenger, Kelly Wayland, mentioned she was surprised when the captain requested volunteers to leave the plane and initially thought the announcement was not serious.

She said: “I just thought [the captain] was joking, you know, just making a laugh about it.

"I’m sort of a nervous flyer so if there’s a bit of strange weather I do get nervous.

“That did make me feel a bit uneasy on the plane.”

Ms. Wayland mentioned that staff briefly considered sending the luggage separately, but five people volunteered to disembark within about 10 minutes.

She said the passengers who got off were applauded by those who remained on board.

An EasyJet spokesperson said: “The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always EasyJet’s highest priority.”

The airline has not disclosed the amount of compensation to be offered.

Under UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance, passengers affected by the cancellation of a medium-haul flight could be entitled to between £175 and £350, depending on the delay.

A similar issue affected passengers on the same Southend to Malaga route in 2014.

Airlines do not usually weigh passengers individually before departure, instead relying on average weight estimates.

A 2022 study by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency found the average passenger weight, including hand luggage, was 84kg.

An EasyJet spokesperson told LBC: “Five passengers on flight EJU7008 from Southend to Malaga on Saturday volunteered to travel on alternative flights as a result of the aircraft being over the weight limits for the weather conditions and the short length of the runway. Weight restrictions are in place for all airlines for safety reasons.

“The customers were provided with transport and a later flight to Malaga on the same day, free of charge, from London Gatwick and we have been in touch with them to provide the compensation they are entitled to, in line with the regulations. 

“The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always EasyJet’s highest priority.”