‘Flight from hell’: passenger says Tui plane ‘bounced off runway’ and was diverted before woman went into labour

A Tui passenger has described a “flight from hell” with the airline, during which she claims the plane was delayed before departure, “bounced hard off the ground” on arrival into the UK and was diverted to another airport – adding 10 hours to her journey home.

The incident ended in chaos at Birmingham Airport, as passengers were held onboard for two hours, one woman on the plane went into labour, and police boarded the aircraft to deal with furious customers.

Naomii Thomas, from Cardiff, was checking in for a flight from Cape Verde to Bristol Airport on flight TOM245, on 7 June, when the problems began.

Ms Thomas told Wales Online: “Initially the flight to Bristol was delayed by two hours and 45 minutes. We asked if we could stay in the hotel because it would mean avoiding a six-hour wait at Cape Verde Airport, but they said no and gave us a voucher worth €5.

“The airport was manic due to delays. It’s only small and because we were all there earlier than we really needed to be the queues were huge. It was an absolute nightmare.”

She alleges that staff were short with customers from the minute they boarded, saying that the crew had worked beyond its usual hours in what she describes as a bid to warn them “not to be difficult”.

“When we boarded the plane the pilot spoke to us immediately, and he said because he would try to get us back to Bristol with as little delay as possible the plane hadn’t been stocked with any food,” says Ms Thomas.

“He then said the airline staff had volunteered to work over their hours, and that they were very tired. Essentially telling us not to be difficult.”

There appeared to be a rush to get off the ground in the hopes of beating the three-hour delay window after which airlines owe their customers cash compensation, Ms Thomas claims.

“We met a lot of people out there who were actually in credit from their holiday because of delays. One family of five from Barry had paid £1,900 for the holiday and received £2,500 on the way out and then again on the way back.

“The pilot told us he would be taking a shortcut. The moment we hit the ground in Bristol we were on two hours and 55 minutes.”

However, she claims she felt something wasn’t right about the way the aircraft landed in Bristol – a feeling that was heightened when the plane then took off again immediately for a different UK airport.

Ms Thomas alleges that the Tui pilot informed customers that because they had taken a shortcut, not enough fuel…