/ 23 March 2008

Passengers enraged by Mango flight cancellation

Passengers at Durban International Airport, some of them heading for the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, were so enraged when a Mango flight was cancelled on Saturday that one of them smashed a glass door and armed riot police were called, the Cape Argus has reported.

Budget airline Mango has promised a full internal investigation.

The 9.45pm flight to Cape Town on Friday was delayed after an air hostess fell ill and couldn’t fly.

However, passengers who had already checked in and were waiting to board were informed by ground staff that the flight had been cancelled because the pilot had exceeded his permitted flying hours.

As passengers shouted in anger and frustration, one enraged man stormed the door leading to the apron and kicked it, shattering the glass.

Airport security apprehended the man before he could run on to the apron, and six riot police officers arrived on the scene, armed with sub-machine guns. — Sapa