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This Saturday, June 29, at Figari airport in Corsica, about sixty passengers experienced a real nightmare. A breakdown of the baggage conveyor belt prevented them from boarding on time for their flight to Brest. As a result, the plane left without them.
Travelers arrived as early as six in the morning to catch a flight scheduled for 8:05 am. But the nasty surprise awaited them when checking in their checked baggage. Only those with just carry-on luggage were allowed to board.
As the afternoon progressed, passengers were still stuck in the airport under sweltering heat, without any help or even a bottle of water offered by Volotea’s customer service or the airport. Emmanuelle Guil, traveling with her four-month-old baby, describes their frustration with the continuous back-and-forth between the airline and the airport.
This unacceptable situation highlights a glaring lack of organization and consideration for passengers affected by this technical failure.
Passengers stranded until Tuesday
Other flights departing from Figari encountered similar problems, but passengers were able to carry their luggage in the cabin. This would have allowed for the checked baggage to be sent later without causing major inconvenience. However, this option was not offered to passengers on the Figari-Brest flight.
Throughout the day, most of the travelers give up and leave the airport. Around 6:30 pm, a passenger informs that a group left behind can board a Calvi-Nantes flight, but no specific information is given to them. Faced with this total uncertainty, they decide among themselves to prioritize families with young children and elderly individuals.
On Sunday, June 30, the ordeal continues for some passengers who prefer to spend the night at a hotel rather than sleep at the airport with children. Most finally find a solution thanks to various flights from Bastia, Figari, or Ajaccio to Nantes organized by Volotea. Taxis are arranged to transport these unlucky passengers to other airports and also to welcome them in Nantes. While some manage to get a flight promptly, others will have to wait until Tuesday.
These events clearly show that despite the difficulties faced by several travelers during this flight incident, solutions were found in a spirit of solidarity and organization.
