Passengers onboard an easyJet flight from Lanzarote to the UK were instructed to get off due to fears that the plane was "too heavy" to take off.
The flight from Lanzarote's Arrecife Airport to Liverpool was scheduled to depart at 9:45pm on Wednesday July 5 but did not take off until 11:24pm, The Mirror reports.
A member of the flight crew spoke to passengers just after boarding, informing them that: "Because there are so many of you it's a pretty heavy aircraft. That heavy aircraft combined with a pretty short runway and with the current unfavourable conditions here in Lanzarote, means the aircraft is too heavy to take off.
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"There are a number of factors - it's very hot, the wind isn't fantastic, the direction isn't great."
The atmosphere in the video of the incident becomes audibly tense as passengers anxiously await the news the pilot is about to give them.
"Now, you might be wondering what happens next and that's what I've come in here to say. I have spoken with our operations team and the one way to solve a problem with a heavy aircraft is to make it slightly lighter.
"If possible, I would like to ask up to 20 volunteers to choose not to fly to Liverpool tonight."
The pilot's words were met with audible groans and sighs from passengers, with one being heard saying "I want to go home tonight."
This was followed up with an offer from the pilot, after having consulted with easyJet operations, to encourage the required number of passengers to volunteer to get off the plane to allow it to take off: "If anyone wants to volunteer there will be an incentive. The current number we've been quoted by easyJet is up to €500 per passenger who is willing to not fly tonight."
The flight did not land in Liverpool's John Lennon Airport until after 3am on Thursday, July 6.
A spokesperson for easyJet said in a statement: "easyJet can confirm that 19 passengers on flight EZY3364 from Lanzarote to Liverpool yesterday evening volunteered to travel on a later flight as a result of the aircraft being over the weight limits for the weather conditions.
"This is a routine operational decision in these circumstances and weight restrictions are in place for all airlines for safety reasons. In the event that a flight would exceed weight limits, we ask for passengers to volunteer to transfer to a later flight free of charge which is what happened on this occasion and volunteers are provided with compensation in line with regulations.
"The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority."
