In Greece, a pilot refused to take off because the plane was overweight
A flight from the Greek island of Skiathos to Naples was unable to take off immediately due to excess weight. The pilot suggested that passengers leave some of their luggage on the island or cancel the flight. In the end, the tourists agreed to fly without some of their luggage, and the captain’s decision was met with applause.
There were 180 passengers on board the plane. Most of them were tourists from Italy returning home after a vacation in Greece. Because of this, the passengers were carrying a lot of luggage. As the plane was preparing for takeoff, the captain announced that it was impossible to take off under these conditions. According to him, the total weight of the plane had become too heavy for a safe flight.
The crew suggested leaving some of the luggage on Skiathos and then shipping it to Naples separately. The passengers did not like this suggestion. An argument broke out on board. In response to the passengers’ discontent, the captain declared, “I’m the captain, and I make the decisions.” The pilot explained that the plane would not take off unless its weight was reduced. He then gave the passengers a choice: “Either the passengers or the luggage must leave the plane. Which will you choose?”
In the end, the tourists agreed to leave some of their luggage behind. The passengers themselves flew to Naples, while their suitcases remained on Skiathos. According to TVP Info, after the passengers agreed to the captain’s decision, they even applauded him.
The reason for the situation is related to the specific characteristics of the airport on Skiathos. Its runway is shorter than at many other airports. Therefore, before each departure, the crew must carefully assess the takeoff conditions. Pilots take into account not only the number of passengers and the amount of luggage, but also the air temperature, the condition and length of the runway, as well as wind speed and direction.
If calculations show that the aircraft is too heavy for a safe takeoff, its weight may be reduced. To do this, for example, some of the luggage may be left at the airport. Thus, the captain’s unusual decision was not due to a whim of the crew, but rather to flight safety requirements. As a result, the passengers were able to depart for Naples, and their luggage was to be delivered to them later, according to Tvp Info.
