News / National
Fastjet flight delay sparks chaos at OR Tambo in Johannesburg
8 hrs ago |
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What was meant to be a quick morning hop from Johannesburg to Harare turned into a nine-hour ordeal for passengers aboard a delayed Fastjet flight, with scenes of frustration, protest and police intervention unfolding at OR Tambo International Airport.
The early morning flight, scheduled to depart at 6:45am for the short 1 hour 45 minutes journey, only took off at 3:52pm after multiple delays and an aborted takeoff, leaving travellers stranded for hours with limited communication from the airline.
Passengers described a chaotic situation as departure times were repeatedly pushed back throughout the day, with explanations ranging from technical faults to the unavailability of a critical spare part. Many said the lack of clear and consistent updates worsened tensions inside the terminal.
As the delay dragged into the afternoon, tempers flared. Some travellers resorted to drinking and smoking, while others staged a spontaneous protest, singing and carrying placards mocking the airline as "Slowjet." Police were eventually called in to restore order as the situation escalated.
"One passenger even attempted to force their way into the cockpit and was quickly offloaded," said a traveller who recounted the incident. Several other passengers were also removed from the flight amid growing unrest.
The situation briefly appeared to improve when passengers were boarded around midday. However, hopes were dashed when the aircraft aborted takeoff due to another reported technical issue, further fuelling anxiety and anger among those on board.
"We were told different stories throughout the day - from waiting for a spare part from Harare to other technical problems," one passenger said. "Some insiders claimed the airline knew about the delay the previous day but failed to inform us, which is unprofessional."
The disruption comes during the busy Easter travel period, when demand on the Johannesburg–Harare route surges. Airlines have been increasing frequencies to cater for the traffic, with competitors such as South African Airways, Airlink, FlySafair, CemAir and Air Zimbabwe all servicing the high-demand corridor.
FlySafair has ramped up operations to double daily flights during peak periods, while South African Airways has increased frequencies to around 12 weekly flights, offering travellers more flexibility.
Against this backdrop of growing competition and improved connectivity, Fastjet's prolonged delay stood in stark contrast to its brand promise of efficiency, with passengers left questioning the airline's reliability.
By the time boarding was finally completed and the aircraft departed, the airline's name had become the subject of ridicule among exhausted travellers — a journey that was supposed to be fast had instead become an all-day wait.
The early morning flight, scheduled to depart at 6:45am for the short 1 hour 45 minutes journey, only took off at 3:52pm after multiple delays and an aborted takeoff, leaving travellers stranded for hours with limited communication from the airline.
Passengers described a chaotic situation as departure times were repeatedly pushed back throughout the day, with explanations ranging from technical faults to the unavailability of a critical spare part. Many said the lack of clear and consistent updates worsened tensions inside the terminal.
As the delay dragged into the afternoon, tempers flared. Some travellers resorted to drinking and smoking, while others staged a spontaneous protest, singing and carrying placards mocking the airline as "Slowjet." Police were eventually called in to restore order as the situation escalated.
"One passenger even attempted to force their way into the cockpit and was quickly offloaded," said a traveller who recounted the incident. Several other passengers were also removed from the flight amid growing unrest.
The situation briefly appeared to improve when passengers were boarded around midday. However, hopes were dashed when the aircraft aborted takeoff due to another reported technical issue, further fuelling anxiety and anger among those on board.
"We were told different stories throughout the day - from waiting for a spare part from Harare to other technical problems," one passenger said. "Some insiders claimed the airline knew about the delay the previous day but failed to inform us, which is unprofessional."
The disruption comes during the busy Easter travel period, when demand on the Johannesburg–Harare route surges. Airlines have been increasing frequencies to cater for the traffic, with competitors such as South African Airways, Airlink, FlySafair, CemAir and Air Zimbabwe all servicing the high-demand corridor.
FlySafair has ramped up operations to double daily flights during peak periods, while South African Airways has increased frequencies to around 12 weekly flights, offering travellers more flexibility.
Against this backdrop of growing competition and improved connectivity, Fastjet's prolonged delay stood in stark contrast to its brand promise of efficiency, with passengers left questioning the airline's reliability.
By the time boarding was finally completed and the aircraft departed, the airline's name had become the subject of ridicule among exhausted travellers — a journey that was supposed to be fast had instead become an all-day wait.
Source - online
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