A Ryanair passenger recounts her experience of being stranded overnight in Bilbao following a medical emergency that forced their flight to divert.
A Ryanair passenger has recounted her experience of being stranded overnight in Bilbao after a medical emergency caused their flight to divert. Sara Diggle was aboard Ryanair flight RK3209, which was en route from Malaga to Manchester on the evening of Saturday, October 14, when the captain made the decision to divert the aircraft due to a passenger’s illness. The plane was flying at an altitude of 36,000 feet and was approximately an hour into the flight when it changed course, landing safely in Bilbao around half an hour later.
According to Diggle, upon landing and once the ill passenger was taken off the aircraft, the normal procedure would have involved refuelling before continuing the journey. The situation, however, took a turn when passengers were informed that air-traffic controllers at Bilbao Airport “refused to wait 15 minutes to see us off” and subsequently went home, leaving the passengers to make their own hotel arrangements. “We were unloaded, left high and dry to make our own arrangements for hotels,” Diggle stated in an interview with The Independent.
An official spokesperson for Aena, the airport operator, confirmed that the flight did not take off that night as the flight plan “exceeded operational hours” for Bilbao Airport. This factor was critical, as strict regulations regarding crew operating hours meant that the pilots and cabin crew needed to take a mandatory rest before flying again. The flight eventually departed at 1 pm on Sunday, October 15, arriving in Manchester approximately 14 hours behind schedule.
Reflecting on the experience, Diggle noted that she had previously been involved in a medical diversion and had prepared accordingly for the unexpected overnight stop. She mentioned that upon disembarking in Bilbao, there were no taxis available for passengers, only for the crew, so she and her fellow passengers walked to the nearest airport hotel to check in. “I got a text at least to advise what time the flight would leave Bilbao. Others got nothing – I assume that’s because they didn’t register their mobile or didn’t book direct,” she remarked.
Despite the challenges faced by the passengers, Diggle commended the cabin crew for their empathy during the ordeal, highlighting that their handling of the situation was commendable given the circumstances. Under air passengers’ rights regulations, travellers affected by overnight delays are entitled to accommodations, transport, and meals. However, in this case, since Ryanair did not have a presence at the airport, passengers were left to arrange their own accommodations and were advised they could claim back expenses via the airline’s website.
Ryanair issued a statement confirming that the flight was diverted following a medical emergency on board. A spokesperson noted that passengers were informed of the diversion and their options. Despite the airline’s attempts to provide accommodations, the spokesperson acknowledged that availability was limited, resulting in passengers arranging their own lodging for the night.
The Independent has reached out to Enaire, the Spanish air-navigation provider, for comments regarding the incident.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-stranded-air-traffic-control-manchester-flight-diversion-b2712102.html – This article corroborates the experience of Ryanair passengers being stranded in Bilbao due to a medical emergency and air traffic control issues. It also details the challenges faced by passengers in arranging accommodations and the airline’s response.
- https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/RUK3209 – This URL provides flight tracking and historical data for Ryanair UK flight RK3209, supporting the claim about the flight’s diversion and delay.
- https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/rk3209 – This website offers live flight status and historical data for Ryanair UK flight RK3209, further corroborating the flight’s diversion and subsequent delay.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-stranded-air-traffic-control-manchester-flight-diversion-b2712102.html – This article also mentions the strict regulations on crew working hours, which necessitated a mandatory rest period before the flight could resume.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-stranded-air-traffic-control-manchester-flight-diversion-b2712102.html – The article highlights passenger rights regulations, which entitle travelers to accommodations and meals during overnight delays, though passengers had to arrange their own in this case.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/ryanair-stranded-air-traffic-control-manchester-flight-diversion-b2712102.html – It mentions Ryanair’s statement confirming the diversion and their efforts to provide accommodations, despite limited availability.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The incident occurred on October 14, and the narrative does not appear to be recycled from older content. However, the lack of very recent updates or follow-up information slightly reduces the freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Sara Diggle are included, but no earlier references to these specific quotes were found online. This suggests they might be original to this narrative.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a well-known and reputable publication. Official statements from Aena and Ryanair add credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The scenario described is plausible given the context of air travel and medical emergencies. The involvement of official entities like Aena and Ryanair supports the plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be fresh and original, with reliable sources and plausible claims. Quotes seem to be original, and the source is reputable. Overall, the information presented is likely accurate.
