(Picture: PA Wire)
Angry travellers have hit out on social media after flights due to land at Gatwick Airport early on Monday were diverted to Birmingham and Bristol due to thunderstorms.
Passengers said they were on board a Wizz Air flight arriving from Palma de Mallorca that diverted to Birmingham Airport around 2am. They claimed to be stranded at Birmingham International Airport for hours waiting for alternative transport.
They took to Twitter to call for compensation, calling the ordeal a “shambles”.
“Palma to London Gatwick flight w/ @WizzAirUK_W9 ended up in Birmingham. Still stranded at the wrong airport, now over 5 hours late and STILL no sign of transport to Gatwick!” one person wrote.
They said the alternative bus service did not arrive until after 7am on Monday, for a flight that was due to arrive at Gatwick Airport at 10.30pm.
Another posted: “I’m currently stuck in Birmingham Airport waiting for @WizzAirUK_W9 to sort a bus transfer after being diverted from Gatwick. We’ve been here over 2hrs. An absolute shambles. I don’t recommend them at all!!!”
They added: “@WizzAirUK_W9 you’ve got hundreds of people stranded at Birmingham airport who were supposed to land at Gatwick hours ago! What are you going to do to get us home and compensate us?”
Wizz Air responded and apologised for the diversion.
“Our apologies for the diversion and the inconvenience it will have caused. This was due to storms in the Gatwick area, leading to our crew diverting the aircraft to Birmingham, along with our airlines last night.”
Palma to London Gatwick flight w/ @WizzAirUK_W9 ended up in Birmingham. Still stranded at the wrong airport, now over 5 hours late and STILL no sign of transport to Gatwick!
— Dunnies (@thealahnadunbar) September 5, 2022
Meanwhile, other Twitter users said they had been diverted to Bristol Airport.
Andy Ching wrote: “Diverted the plane to Bristol cos Gatwick Is a shutdown SMH how my supposed to get home from here at 2am.”
Gatwick Airport and Wizz Air have been approached for comment.
