Virgin VS28 emergency landing at Gatwick

[steph_goodrum]

I know they were allowed back onto collect it at some stage but dont know if it was before they were taken to an hotel.

[DaveL]

No one was allowed back onto the aircraft at any time. Some passengers did not get their hand baggage back until the next day.

My daughter had medical equipement in her so it was removed on a priority basis. Even so she did not get it back until early evening in the hotel. She had to describe the bags and say which seats she was in. I'm guessing that as they are not sure what has happened they are limit the people on board.


They did not see thier hold luggage until they arrived at MCO last night. Virgin handed out toothbrushes and spare pairs of knickers (go figure) to those that wanted them and also said that people would be reimbused for essential items they had purchased ( No iPads ).

The replacement plane also left late and did not arrive at MCO until 7:20pm, on the plus side the crew were OTT with offering anything people wanted.

Virgin have offered a free flight like I reported yesterday and also given everyone a voucher for $100 of attraction tickets.

Dave

[steph_goodrum]

No one was allowed back onto the aircraft at any time. Some passengers did not get their hand baggage back until the next day.

My daughter had medical equipement in her so it was removed on a priority basis. Even so she did not get it back until early evening in the hotel. She had to describe the bags and say which seats she was in. I'm guessing that as they are not sure what has happened they are limit the people on board.


They did not see thier hold luggage until they arrived at MCO last night. Virgin handed out toothbrushes and spare pairs of knickers (go figure) to those that wanted them and also said that people would be reimbused for essential items they had purchased ( No iPads ).

The replacement plane also left late and did not arrive at MCO until 7:20pm, on the plus side the crew were OTT with offering anything people wanted.

Virgin have offered a free flight like I reported yesterday and also given everyone a voucher for $100 of attraction tickets.

Dave

Sorry Dave
It was your report yesterday that said
"They have just been told that the aircraft will be declared safe shortly which means that people will be allowed on board row by row to collect personal items left behind."
that led me to understand they had been allowed to collect their belongings.

[DaveL]

That report was based on what they told my daughter at the time. I guess it may have been wishful thinking on the part of the staff member.

It looks as if the aircraft was delared safe but what ever the problem was the air accident investigators did not what anyone to go on board.

Dave

[Katys Grandad]

Even where there might be other good reasons (which appears to be the case here), the logistics of allowing people back onto the aircraft of that size to collect their belonging would be enough to prevent it happening. Much easier and practical for it to be done by ground staff and distributed to the passengers afterwards.

I often wonder how passengers actually react in these circumstances and just how it's all sorted out. I'd imagine that a lot of passengers (maybe most of them) would be immediately left with no money/credit cards, passports, phone, never mind things like clean clothes and toiletries. I'm sure there are contingency plans and thankfully this seems to have ended without serious harm to anybody but how well the plan actually works is something I'd love to know.

[bargainqueen]

Sorry Dave
It was your report yesterday that said
"They have just been told that the aircraft will be declared safe shortly which means that people will be allowed on board row by row to collect personal items left behind."
that led me to understand they had been allowed to collect their belongings.

My earlier reply was also based on this comment, I do realise that you're not allowed to take anything off with you down the shutes.

My husband has always laughed at me for my just in case packing in my hand luggage, I have cut that down but this experience was making me think again. Now I know that in most instances neither luggage was returned I'll pack as normal.

Thanks for reporting the facts Dave and glad to read that your daughter has arrived safely. Hope they enjoy the rest of their holiday.

[DaveL]

Some of you may have already heard my daughter talk about this as she was interviewed for LBC. This was then copied to SKY and has now been play on local radio as far away as New Zealand.

It's interesting that what she talks about bear no relationship to the title of the piece; but that's the media for you. If your interested I have put a link below.

Dave

http://www.lbc.co.uk/listen-woman-re...e-flight-53723

[Lyn]

Just listened to this and am just wondering how someone with a young baby would have managed on the chute? (We are thinking of taking our daughter and Grandson out in September he will be 5mths then)

[DaveL]

There were some babies and younger children on the flight but not that many as half term had finished the previous week. They did all get down but my daughter did not see how. She was only one row from the exit so was out very quickly.

I just wonder what would have happened if this had been in the school holidays with a higher count of younger children.

I recall seeing a program a few years ago about how they designed and built the A380. Part of the process was proving that an aircraft of that size could be fully evacuted, in maximum configuration within the proscribe time (which I think is 90 secounds). They do this with teams of people from the factory who both know what they are doing and have practiced it. I seem to recall that on the first attempt at gettting the certificate they still failed.

We are in Florida at the moment and will not be flying back with Virgin as we have book on a cruise to come home. ( Note to self must check how fast you can launch a lifeboat)

Regards Dave

[Jill]

We are in Florida at the moment and will not be flying back with Virgin as we have book on a cruise to come home. ( Note to self must check how fast you can launch a lifeboat)

Regards Dave

Now that brings up another interesting topic after the problems on the Concordia